Whether it is a natural gas pipeline located in an isolated area of wilderness, a manufacturing plant located in an industrial park, or other related setting, having a system to detect methane gas leaks is imperative to ensuring the safety of not only those at a facility, but also residents who may live nearby. In many cases where even a small methane gas leak goes undetected, the result can be a fire or explosion that can cause extensive damage, injuries, and deaths. To ensure this does not happen, a variety of detection systems have been developed for applications in various industries. If you are concerned about the dangers of methane gas leaks, here is some important information to keep in mind.

When choosing gas detectors, many factors come into play. The type of facility in which they will be placed, the gases they are designed to detect, environmental conditions, and more all play a role in determining the accuracy and reliability of the detectors. Due to the numerous factors involved, it is important to think carefully about the pros and cons associated with the gas detection system you are considering. To help with this, here is some additional information to help with your decision.

In many instances when a gas leak goes undetected, the result is a fire or explosion. If this happens within an industrial work environment, the damage to property and injuries sustained by people at the scene can be catastrophic. To guard against the presence of an undetected gas leak, many facilities make use of Lower Explosive Limit detection systems. Able to scan for many different types of gases, these detectors can immediately alert engineers and safety personnel of gas levels that may fall into a dangerous range, allowing emergency procedures to occur before it is too late. In addition, LEL gas detectors have many other features and capabilities that make them invaluable to modern industrial and laboratory settings.

Within many types of industrial work environments, one of the biggest hazards faced by workers is VOC, which stands for volatile organic compounds. Highly-regulated due to their potential to inflict harm on humans and the environment, these compounds can cause a variety of problems for those exposed to them over a period of time, such as irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, nausea, loss of coordination, and in extreme cases damage to a person’s liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, which in some instances can lead to death. To ensure workers are kept as safe as possible from these substances, companies are investing more and more in technology that can monitor facilities and provide information that is accurate and reliable.

When employees at a manufacturing plant, laboratory, water treatment plant, or even an offshore drilling platform are working in confined spaces, they are at risk of a dangerous gas buildup or other serious situation. In many cases, low oxygen levels, buildups of methane, benzene, or carbon monoxide, or equipment malfunctions that lead to undetected hazards occurring can all result in injuries or deaths. As a result, the use of confined space monitors has become a much higher priority for companies. But to make sure these monitors are used in the best possible way, it is important to know exactly what they measure.