The moment there’s a gas leak present in your facility, you and your employees need to be able to act quickly. A gas leak left unchecked could potentially have catastrophic consequences. The two main concerns are the immediate risk of an explosion should a gas leak occur near an open flame, as well as prolonged health issues for your employees. Gas leaks have been connected to:
- Suffocation
- Memory problems
- Loss of coordination
- Severe headaches
As a result, having an effective gas leak detector is an essential part of keeping your employees safe as well as shielding your business from lawsuits and massive compliance fines. Here are some key traits you should be looking for when adding gas leak detectors.
Versatility
All gas leaks pose an immediate danger, but there’s more than one type of gas you may be looking to monitor depending on your facility. Any given facility could need to cover:
- Ammonia
- Carbon Monoxide
- Chlorine
- Chlorine Dioxide
- Hydrogen
- Hydrogen Chloride
- Hydrogen Cyanide
- Hydrogen Sulphide
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Nitric Oxide
- Oxygen
- Ozone
- Sulfur Dioxide
Before shopping for equipment, make sure you know exactly what your needs are so nothing gets missed. Depending on your needs, there are some types of detectors that can actually monitor two types of gases at the same time, or look at multiple types of gases simultaneously. In addition, there are also some models that have remote display units. This means that even if you’re working away from the area of the immediate gas leak, you can have a clear indicator that something is wrong so you can leave the area and go through your appropriate security protocol.
Durability
Having a gas leak detector that is damaged or compromised is every bit as bad as not having one at all, as you no longer have the ability to accurately gauge whether your facility is in any real danger. This is why it’s important not only to regularly test and check them but also make sure that your detector can stand up to the rigors of your environment. For example, many sensors and remote units come in some sort of protective enclosure. This lets them do their job while being protected from outside corrosion and rust.
Longevity and Ease of Use
Your average gas leak detector has a lifespan of five years, but to get the most out of that lifespan, you need to regularly calibrate it. When selecting a gas leak detector, ask about how easy it is to calibrate or how often it needs to be calibrated, so you can stay safe without compromising efficiency.
Being able to detect a gas leak quickly and effectively is an essential part of keeping your business and employees secure and safe. So, it’s equally important that while keeping these traits in mind, that you also work with a company with the experience and expertise in providing great gas leak detectors. Chemtech International is the perfect match—a family-run business with 30 years of experience helping companies around the world with environmental compliance.