[labnetwork] Toxic gases

[Manish Keswani]

Thanks Shimon for your response. We have sensors at multiple locations (for
the same gas) in the cleanroom so if one sensor fails, other sensors would
be able to detect the leak. However, if there is only one sensor for a gas,
I understand the risk if that sensor fails.

We have annual maintenance of the TGM system during which time the sensors
are tested. I may have to reach out to Hoenywell to understand how this
testing is done and what happens if one or more sensors stop working.

Happy holidays to everyone!

Manish

On Wed, Dec 16, 2020 at 12:55 AM Shimon Eliav <shimonel at savion.huji.ac.il>
wrote:

> Hi Manish,
>
>
>
> From time it is nice to hear what others are doing related to safety
> issues.
>
>
>
> The summary table you sent us about toxic gases lines made me think:
> perhaps am I exaggerating on my protocol? A legitimate question after being
> the only one closing the gas lines in the end of the day. This question
> remained “in the corner of my mind” since then.
>
>
>
> We periodically check our leak sensors. Yesterday we received the results
> of the last check: two sensors need to be replaced. They were not
> responsive at all. Once I received those results I got the answer to that
> question in my mind: our protocol is solid! It builds one more layer of
> protection over the one depending on the leak sensors.
>
>
>
> When the clean room is closed, the poison/corrosive gas lines are empty.
> When those lines is under use, we have portable sensors near the user(s),
> in case of leak and the building leak sensors fail, the user will shut down
> all the gas lines using the emergency shutdown button nearby.
>
>
>
> I can soundly sleep in the night J.
>
>
>
> I take this opportunity to wish everybody Merry Christmas and Happy New
> Year!!!
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
>
>
> Shimon
>
>
>
> *From:* labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu [mailto:
> labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu] *On Behalf Of *Manish Keswani
> *Sent:* Sunday, 6 December 2020 22:26
> *To:* labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [labnetwork] Toxic gases
>
>
>
> Thank you so much everyone for such an enthusiastic response.  It seems
> clear that at most facilities (if not all), the gas cylinders are always
> kept open. We also have TGMS in our cleanroom which allows monitoring of
> the toxic gases at multiple locations (source and delivery point) and will
> shut off the ESO valve in the event of a leak.
>
> We will work with our safety and ES&H teams to change our current practice
> of turning off the gases when not in use.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Manish
>
>
>
> [image: image.png]
>
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 4, 2020 at 2:11 PM Manish Keswani <manish.keswani01 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Happy Friday everyone,
>
>
>
> I have a question related to toxic gases in our nano fabrication center.
>
>
>
> We typically shut off our toxic gases at the source when not in use, using
> the in line valves on the Safety Manifolds, the ESO valves, and the
> cylinder valve. This is to comply with the administrative control stated in
> our gas safety notes. The following question came up for toxic gases. I
> would like to understand how this is being done at other facilities and the
> reasoning behind it.
>
>
>
> “Is there a good reason we turn off the toxic gases at the end of the day
> instead of just leaving them on? It seems like if there is a risk, it would
> be wear and tear on the valves etc, plus someone going in vault often to do
> it.”
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Manish Keswani
>
> Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
>
>
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