An in-depth discussion of how to mitigate the risks posed by hydrogen sulfide in a wide variety of industries
In Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Hazards: Risk Recognition and Prevention, experienced refinery supervisor and manager M. Darryl Yoes delivers an expert discussion of how to address the risks posed by hydrogen sulfide in workplaces. With a focus on operations conducted within the United States, the book nevertheless explores issues of global importance. It describes what hydrogen sulfide is, where it comes from, its characteristics, the hazards it presents, and important working limits.
The book explores a variety of industries in which hydrogen sulfide is a significant concern and conducts an extensive review of notable safety incidents that have occurred in the past thirty years. It also contains quizzes at the end of each chapter (with answers included in the appendix) that help readers retain life-saving information on how to handle H2S.
Readers will also find:
- A thorough review of significant events, deaths, and injuries involving hydrogen sulfide drawn from the Occupational Safety and Health Agency database in the United States
- Comprehensive explorations of the hierarchy of controls, chemical selection hazards, personal protective equipment, other safety equipment, and safety protocols
- Practical discussions of an operator’s perspective and the roles they play in limiting the risks posed by hydrogen sulfide exposure
- Instructive case studies exploring the real-world impacts of hydrogen sulfide in the workplace
Perfect for petroleum refining, petrochemical, municipal sewer treatment, and agriculture safety professionals, this book will also benefit people working in textile manufacturing, paper mills, food processing plants, mining, and intensive livestock operations who have a responsibility for personnel safety.
Preface ix
About the Author xiii
1 The Sources of Hydrogen Sulfide: Where Does It Come From? 1
2 How Biodegradation Processes Generate Hydrogen Sulfide 13
3 The Characteristics and Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide 19
4 The Hazards of Hydrogen Sulfide 29
5 The Working Limits for Hydrogen Sulfide 43
6 Protecting the Workers and Ourselves Against the Hydrogen Sulfide Hazards
49
7 What Has Happened/ What Can Happen Again? 67
Incident 1 October 10, 2024; Pemex Refinery, Deer Park, Texas. Hydrogen
Sulfide Release When Workers Were Attempting to Install Isolation Blinds (2
Fatalities, 35 Injured) 70
Incident 2 Hydrogen Sulfide Release at Aghorn Operating Waterflood Station;
Aghorn Operating Inc. (2 Fatalities 1 Company Fatality, 1 Civilian
Fatality) 78
Incident 3 Accidental Transfer of Sodium Hydrogen Sulfide (NaHS) into a Tank
Containing Dilute Sulfuric Acid, National Transportation Safety Board (1
Fatality, 1 Injury) 89
Incident 4 Two Brothers and Two Others Were Killed by Hydrogen Sulfide While
Attempting to Repair a Landfill Leachate Pump (4 Fatalities) 99
Incident 5 Hydrogen Sulfide Release, Valero Refinery, St. Charles, LA. The
Isolation Blind Was Improperly Installed, Resulting in Release (1 Fatality, 1
Injury) 104
Incident 6 Three Utility Workers Killed by Hydrogen Sulfide While Working in
Municipal Sewer System (3 Fatalities, 5 Injuries) 108
Incident 7 ConocoPhillips Company: Employee Found Unresponsive While
Attempting to Drain Liquids from a Tank in a 90 Sq ft Oil Well Shack (1
Fatality) 111
Incident 8 Worker Exposed to Hydrogen Sulfide and Falls from the Top of the
Truck (1 Fatality) 113
Incident 9 Worker Fatally Injured After Exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide While
Attempting to Inject Methanol into an Oil and Gas System (1 Fatality) 119
Incident 10 Paper Mill Workers Exposed to a High Concentration of Hydrogen
Sulfide That Was Venting from a Storage Tank That Contained Process Water (2
Fatalities, 14 Injuries, Including 1 Worker Placed into an Induced Coma Due
to the Seriousness of His Injuries) 126
Incident 11 Two Workers Were Killed While Inspecting Cargo Tanks on a Marine
Vessel Due to Hydrogen Sulfide in an Innocuous Cargo 129
Incident 12 One Person Was Killed by Hydrogen Sulfide During a Rescue
Attempt While Performing Maintenance on Wastewater Pump in an Underground
Confined Space 131
8 The Hierarchy of Controls 139
9 Controlling the Hazards of Hydrogen Sulfide 147
10 Recognition of International and Regional Authorities/Organizations with
Expertise in Hydrogen Sulfide 169
Epilogue 171
Appendix 1: End-of-Chapter Quiz (With Answers) 175
Appendix 2: Documented Cases of Hydrogen Sulfide Poisoning 193
Index 261
M. DARRYL YOES is a refinery supervisor and manager with more than 50 years experience in the industry. Hes a valued advisor in the field of process safety management for refineries and petrochemical plants and for construction safety management for major construction projects across the United States. Mr. Yoes is the author of Process Operations Safety: The What, Why, and How Behind Safe Petrochemical Plant Operations and Hazards of Nitrogen and Other Inert Gases: How They Can be Safely Managed, both published by Wiley (2025).
