Best Practice Rules for Gas Detection Instrument Calibration

There is an inherent risk in many workplaces of injury or illness from respiratory hazards such as oxygen deficiency and the presence of toxic gases. Detection technology and products exist to minimize such risk.

Properly verifying the accuracy of gas detection instruments before each day's use will help to ensure that each worker finishes the job safely.
The primary reason for proper, regular instrument calibration is to prevent inaccurate gas concentration readings that could lead to injury or to death.

• Correctly calibrating an instrument helps to ensure that the instrument will accurately respond to the gases it is designed to detect, warning users of hazardous conditions before they reach dangerous levels.
• In addition to detecting and correcting for calibration drift, regular calibration assures the user that the instrument is functional.

Gas detection instruments are often subjected to harsh operating and storage conditions where they can be damaged. Both of these factors can affect instrument performance, leading to inaccurate readings or even instrument failure. While a unit may appear to be sound during a visual inspection, it could actually be damaged internally. Regular calibration is the only way to be certain that a detector is fully functional.
Moreover, a standing policy for regular calibration sets the tone for a safety-conscious work environment and indicates to workers that safety is a priority. As a result, workers may be more likely to keep safety principles in mind throughout the workday.

3 Basic Rules

The following basic instrument calibration rules ensure a clear path to health and safety.

• Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for proper calibration. No job, including instrument calibration, can be performed properly or safely without the right tools. The type and concentration of calibration gas, sample tubing, flow regulators, and calibration adapters are key links in the calibration chain. Using equipment provided by the original manufacturer should ensure a proper start to every calibration.

• Use only certified calibration gas before its expiration date. The most important tool used in calibration is the gas itself. The instrument can only be as accurate as the gas used to calibrate it. Be certain your supplier can provide a traceable certificate of analysis for every calibration gas cylinder. The concentration of calibration gas, particularly the concentration of reactive gases such as hydrogen sulfide or chlorine, will remain stable only for a finite period of time. Never use calibration gas after its expiration date.

• Train workers on the proper methods of calibration. Most instruments are designed to be field calibrated with instructions detailed in user manuals, training videos, or computer-based training modules. Everyone responsible for performing instrument calibration should be trained and tested accordingly.

Detection = Safety

Gas-monitoring instruments are designed to protect personnel from these unseen hazards. However, it is vital to worker safety that these instruments are maintained and calibrated properly.
The free best practices report, Ensuring Accurate Hazardous Gas Detection, informs you about:

• Gas monitoring systems
• Proper instrument testing
• 3 Calibration Rules for a clear path to health and safety
• The key to accurate readings
• Causes of calibration drift
• When to bump test and when to calibrate

Remember, exposure to excessive levels of toxic gas or an oxygen-deficient environment can cause your workers serious illness and even death. Gas explosions are often catastrophic, injuring or