The Hazards of Nitrogen Asphyxiation

US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Introduction
Nitrogen makes up 78% of the air we breath; because of this it is often assumed that nitrogen is not hazardous. However, nitrogen is safe to breath only if it is mixed with an appropriate amount of oxygen. dditiona! nitrogen "!ower o#$gen% cannot be detected b$ the sense of sme!!.

Introduction
Nitrogen is used commercia!!$ as an inerting agent to keep materia! free of contaminants "inc!uding o#$gen% that ma$ corrode e&uipment, present a fire hazard, or be to#ic. !ower o#$gen concentration "e.g., caused b$ an increased amount of nitrogen% can have a range of effects on the human bod$ and can be fata! if if fa!!s be!ow '(%

)ffects of *#$gen +eficienc$ on the Human ,od$

Atmospheric xygen Concentration !"#
'()* +*)( +,)( +/)( +')1

$ossi%le &esults
Normal Some unnoticea%le adverse physiological effects Increased pulse and %reathing rate- impaired thin.ing and attention- reduced coordination A%normal fatigue upon exertion- emotional upset- faulty coordination- poor 0udgment 2ery poor 0udgment and coordination- impaired respiration that may cause permanent heart damage- nausea- and vomiting Ina%ility to move- loss of consciousness- convulsions- death

3+(

-ource. /ompressed 0as ssociation, 1(('

Statistics on Incidents
/-, reviewed cases of nitrogen asph$#iation that occurred in the 2- between '331 and 1((1 and determined the fo!!owing. 84 incidents of nitrogen asph$#iation resu!ted in 8( deaths and 4( in5uries. 6he ma5orit$ of incidents occurred in manufacturing and industria! settings, but severa! incidents occurred in other settings inc!uding !aboratories and medica! faci!ities.

7aci!ities and reas 8here 9ncidents *ccurred

Manufacturing/industry

5% 13%

6% 62%
Trenches, manhole covers (not identified) Maintenance activities (not necessarily at manufacturing sites)

14%

Laboratories

Miscellaneous (including medical facilities and transportation)

Statistics on Incidents !cont4d#

6he ma5orit$ of incidents occurred in and around confined spaces, though severa! incidents occurred in :open; areas, inc!uding inside bui!dings and outdoors near e&uipment. !most ha!f the incidents invo!ved contractors, inc!uding construction workers. /ontractors account for over <(% of the fata!ities.

Statistics on Incidents !cont4d#

/auses of the incidents inc!uded.
7ai!ure to detect an o#$gen=deficient atmosphere in and around confined spaces. >istaken!$ using nitrogen instead of breathing air. 9nade&uate!$ preparing for rescue.

5ata Sources for Statistics

5ata sources for the CSB revie6 included regulatory agencies- media reports- technical pu%lications- and contacts 6ith safety personnel7 ho6ever- only those incidents that 6ere reported and accessi%le are evaluated) Statistical analysis is %ased on the availa%lelimited information) Although the summary data reported a%ove are not all8inclusive- the num%ers clearly indicate that nitrogen asphyxiation presents a serious hazard in the 6or.place)

Case Study9 :ailure to &ecognize Asphyxiation Hazards Near Confined Spaces

Three workers were cleaning filters in a hydrogen purifying tank. Tan. 6as purged 6ith nitrogen during cleaning) ne 6or.er leaned over a man6ay opening in the upper portion of the tan.) He 6as found unconscious and later died)

Case Study9 :ailure to &ecognize Asphyxiation Hazards Near Confined Spaces

An operator was conducting a flammable gas test on a line connected to a flare in order to issue a hot work permit. The operator issued a permit that re;uired an air8supplied respirator) T6o contractors 6ore respirators to remove a valve- %ut the operator did not) Nitrogen inadvertently entered the flare and the operator lost consciousness)

Case Study9 Inade;uate <onitoring of Atmosphere

A tank car at a refinery contained white mineral oil, and an employee started cleaning it. The mineral oil 6as offloaded %y in0ecting nitrogen gas into the car) The nitrogen 6as still present 6hen the employee started to clean the car and he 6as asphyxiated)

Case Study9 Corrupt Breathing Air Supply

Two contractors were abrasive blasting tubes inside a boiler. They 6ore supplied8air respirators connected to compressed air cylinders) After the 6or.ers failed to respond to an air horn- they 6ere found unconscious) :ollo68up testing of the air supply = 6hich had %een manufactured %y mixing oxygen and nitrogen 8 found that it contained less than 1" oxygen)

Case Study9 <ix8Up Nitrogen and Air- and Improper &escue

The atmosphere inside a coated tank was tested and ventilated the day before work was to be performed inside.
A contractor entered the tan. to clean it the next day and collapsed) T6o plant employees attempted rescue and 6ere overcome) All three 6or.ers died) The tan. had mista.enly %een ventilated 6ith nitrogen instead of compressed air)

Case Study9 <ix8up Nitrogen and Air

A contract employee planned to use a hammer powered by air to chip residue from a furnace in an aluminum foundry.
He 6ore an airline respirator) T6o compressed gas lines 6ere availa%le- one 6as la%eled >natural gas? and one 6as la%eled >air?) nce the respirator 6as in place- the employee 6as asphyxiated) The >air? line actually contained pure nitrogen)

Case Study9 <ix8up Breathing Air Supply in a <edical :acility

A supplier mistakenly delivered a cylinder of nitrogen during a delivery of oxygen cylinders.
The nursing home employee mista.enly accepted the nitrogen tan.) The cylinder 6as la%eled 6ith a nitrogen la%el partially covering an oxygen la%el)

Case Study9 <ix8Up Breathing Air Supply in a <edical :acility

"cont?d% The tan. had nitrogen8compati%le fittings) A maintenance employee removed the fittings from an empty oxygen cylinder and used it as an adapter to connect the nitrogen tan. to the oxygen system) :our patients died and six 6ere in0ured)

@ood $ractices for Safe Handling of Nitrogen

Implement 6arning systems and continuous atmospheric monitoring of enclosures
Continuously monitor for oxygen8deficient- toxicor explosive atmospheres) Amploy 6arning systems including flashing lights- alarms- and auto8loc.ing entry6ays) Use personnel monitors to indicate lo6 oxygen concentrations) &emem%er that the atmosphere can change over time)

@ood $ractices for Safe Handling of Nitrogen

Ansure ventilation 6ith fresh8air in confined and enclosed areas)
<aintain continuous forced draft ventilation 6ith fresh air %efore 0o% %egins and through completion) Ansure that ventilation systems are properly designed- evaluated- and maintained) Use 6arning systems to alert personnel if the system fails)

@ood $ractices for Safe Handling of Nitrogen

Implement a system for the safe retrieval and rescue of 6or.ers
Amployees in confined spaces should 6ear e;uipment to facilitate retrieval- such as a %ody harness- an.lets- or 6ristlets- and a lifeline) Stand%y personnel must %e present at all times and have constant communication 6ith personnel inside) $ersonnel should not attempt rescue unless they are properly trained and e;uipped)

@ood $ractices for Safe Handling of Nitrogen

Ansure the uninterrupted flo6 and integrity of %reathing air
Ta.e steps to ensure that supplied air is not interrupted) Steps include having alternate sources of po6er for air compressors- inspecting and replacing air hoses- and restricting traffic in areas 6ith supply hoses) Carry escape pac.s) Ansure the composition of supplied %reathing air is correct) Continuously monitor the air supply)

@ood $ractices for Safe Handling of Nitrogen

$revent inadvertent mix8up of nitrogen and %reathing air
Ansure that personnel understand the reason for specific uni;ue fittings on cylinders of different compressed gases) 5o not fa%ricate >adapters? to defeat their purpose) Ansure that cylinders are clearly la%eled) Use color coding to identify systems)

@ood $ractices for Safe Handling of Nitrogen

5evelop and implement training programs for employees and contract personnel- including information on9
$roper use of ventilation- retrieval- air monitoring- and air supply systems) Safe practices for confined space entry and rescue) $recautions to ta.e 6hen 6or.ing around confined areas) 5angers of nitrogen enriched atmosphere and preventing mix8ups %et6een %reathing air and nitrogen) Implementing good hazard communication)

<ore Information
A safety %ulletin and +8page %rochure on the hazards of nitrogen asphyxiation- as 6ell as this presentation- are availa%le from the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board) 666)cs%)gov !'('#',+8B,((