Online Hydrogen Sulfide Certification Training

Hydrogen sulfide, or H2S, is a chemical compound composed of one hydrogen atom and two sulfur atoms. It is also known by many common nicknames, including sewer gas, stink damp, swamp gas, sour gas, manure gas and more.

It is an odorless, colorless toxic gas that is heavier than air. It collects in low-lying areas, confined spaces and stagnant air. It is extremely harmful to the human body. H2S irritates the skin, burns the eyes, accumulates in the lungs and is a fatal inhalation risk. Hydrogen sulfide is flammable and presents an explosive hazard.

In lower concentrations, H2S smells strongly of rotten eggs. This sulfurous smell is a powerful warning, but becomes less noticeable as concentrations increase and olfactory fatigue sets in. That makes it dangerous to rely on smell alone to detect hazardous vapor.

H2S can be found where biological matter breaks down in large volumes, including manure pits, rendering plants, sewers, septic tanks, agricultural trenches and paper mills. It is also a byproduct of oil and gas operations, ore processing, geothermal power extraction and more.

OSHA doesn't maintain a single, unified standard specifically for hydrogen sulfide exposure. Instead, many standards deal wholly or in part with safe work practices and respiratory protection for this toxic gas.

• OSHA Act Section 5(a)(1) — General Duty Clause: Where no other standard applies, employers must protect employees from known workplace hazards, including elevated levels of H2S.
• 29 CFR 1910.1200 — Hazard Communication: Chemical hazard information must be communicated clearly to employees, including the use of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), signage and labels to indicate the presence of irritants and flammable gases.
• 29 CFR 1910.134 — Respiratory Protection: This standard mandates appropriate controls, including compliant respirators and filters, for all airborne contaminants, harmful vapors or fumes.
• 29 CFR 1910.1000 — Air Contaminants: OSHA sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for H2S as 20 parts per million (ppm), with a peak limit of 50ppm for a single period of up to 10 minutes in Table Z-2.
• 29 CFR 1910.146 — Permit-Required Confined Spaces: Permitting must be enforced in any confined space where toxic or flammable gases are detected.
• 29 CFR 1910.120 — Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER): HAZWOPER protocols call for continuous monitoring, PPE use and other precautions during all phases of an emergency response or cleanup operation where dangerous chemicals may be present.

These are just a few of the applicable standards that protect workers from exposure to H2S. OSHA isn't the only group with an interest in hydrogen sulfide standards.

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) sets a health-focused H2S recommended exposure limit (REL) of no more than 10ppm for a period of no longer than 10 minutes. NIOSH sets the threshold at which the gas becomes immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) at a concentration of 100ppm.
• ANSI/ASSP creates consensus-based industry standards, including the Z390.1 Accepted Practices for Hydrogen Sulfide Training Programs. This standard outlines educational topics, content guidelines, suggested instructor qualifications and more. These parameters were created to ensure that workers are prepared to deal with this deadly hazard whenever and wherever it is found.

Unlike OSHA regulations, these standards are not legally enforceable. However, both bodies provide invaluable expertise that helps inform federal regulators and shape accepted workplace safety practices across industries.

OSHA does not certify individuals or endorse specific educational programs. This certification course is consistent with all OSHA hydrogen sulfide safety standards and meets the training recommendations found in ANSI/ASSP Z390.1.

You will receive an instant digital Certificate of Completion as soon as you complete all lesson modules and pass the final exam. You may download and print the certificate as proof of your job-ready training.

This course takes approximately four hours to finish, including quizzes and the final exam. You are not required to complete the training in one sitting. Log in, study, and log out whenever you like. Progress is saved automatically.

You have 180 days from the date of purchase to finish your training.

Your Certificate of Completion does not expire. However, like HAZWOPER and other HAZMAT education standards, annual retraining is highly suggested for this deadly worksite hazard.