Working environment factors
How does Helium affect workers’ health?
Jul
Helium (He) is not just a gas used in balloons but also a crucial element in many industries. This article will explain in detail how helium affects the health of workers when working in manufacturing plants that use this chemical. Discover now!
1. What is Helium?
Helium, with the chemical formula He, is a chemical element belonging to the noble gas group in the periodic table. It is second in the periodic table, after hydrogen, and has an atomic number of 2. Helium is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and very light gas, with an extremely low boiling point of about -269°C, close to absolute zero.
Helium is primarily produced from nuclear reactions in stars, including our sun. In nature, helium usually appears in the atmosphere at very low concentrations, mainly found in natural gas in certain regions. This makes the extraction of helium from natural sources important and necessary in many industries.
Special properties of helium include its inability to react with other chemicals, helping it not cause chemical reactions in the work environment. For this reason, helium is often used in applications requiring chemical stability, such as in medical devices, scientific research, and even space technology.
With these characteristics, helium plays an important role in many industrial and research fields. However, prolonged exposure to helium in uncontrolled environments can affect worker health, which we need to consider carefully in manufacturing plants using this chemical.
| No. | Chemical name in Vietnamese | Chemical name in English | HS Code | CAS Number | Chemical formula |
| 1. | Heli | Helium | 28042900 | 7440-59-7 | He |
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2. Where does Helium originate from in the production process?
During production, helium is often collected from natural sources and specific chemical reactions. The main source of helium in industry is primarily from natural gas fields, where helium gas is found in high concentrations, especially in gas fields containing hydrocarbon content.
Helium can be separated from natural gas through complex extraction processes. First, natural gas, containing a small amount of helium, is purified to remove impurities and other hydrocarbons. Then, helium is separated using fractional distillation or special absorption technology. This process requires high precision to ensure the quality and purity of the helium obtained.
In some cases, helium can also be generated from nuclear reactions in nuclear processing plants or research laboratories. Helium is a byproduct of nuclear fission reactions, where it is produced when atoms decay into smaller particles. Research facilities and nuclear energy industries often recover helium from these processes for specific applications.
These sources of helium generation play an important role in industrial and research applications. However, during the production and handling of helium, controlling the sources and concentration of helium is essential to ensure safety for workers and the work environment.
3. Industries that use Helium in production
Helium, with its special properties such as being colorless, odorless, and chemically non-reactive, is widely used in many different industries and production fields. In the healthcare industry, helium is often used in medical devices such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. Helium plays an important role in cooling the magnetic coils in MRI machines, helping them operate more effectively and stably.
The electronics industry is another important field that uses helium. In semiconductor manufacturing, helium is used to create a vacuum environment in microchip fabrication processes. Helium helps maintain low pressure and stable temperature, while reducing the risk of unwanted chemical reactions during production.
In the aerospace field, helium plays a crucial role in cooling and pressure control in rocket and spacecraft systems. Helium is used in fuel storage systems and space research equipment due to its safety properties and effective cooling capability.
Additionally, helium is also applied in the electron microscopy industry. In research laboratories, helium helps create an environment free of water vapor and other gases, ensuring the quality and accuracy of micro-analyses.
These diverse applications of helium in various industries require strict control over safety and worker health protection, especially in production environments where helium concentrations can be high.
4. How does Helium affect workers
Helium, although known as a safe and non-toxic gas in many applications, can still cause some effects on worker health if not properly controlled. Prolonged exposure to helium, especially in work environments with high concentrations, can lead to some potential health problems.
First, helium can affect the respiratory system of workers. When helium is inhaled, it can displace oxygen in the atmosphere, leading to temporary oxygen deficiency. This can cause symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. In severe cases, if oxygen deficiency persists, it can lead to loss of consciousness or more serious health problems.
Second, helium can cause a decrease in body temperature. Because helium has a very low boiling point and high thermal conductivity, contact with helium under cold conditions can lead to cold burns. This is particularly dangerous in work environments with extremely low temperatures, where helium is used to cool equipment or in processing procedures.
Furthermore, prolonged exposure to helium can affect the nervous system. Workers in environments containing large amounts of helium may experience problems such as reduced concentration, short-term memory loss, and unusual sensations. Although this phenomenon is not common, it is still an issue that needs attention in occupational health studies and management.
Therefore, understanding and managing the risks associated with helium is crucial to protect the health and safety of workers in work environments using this gas.
5. Permissible safe concentration of Helium for human exposure
When working with helium, controlling the gas concentration in the work environment is extremely important to ensure worker safety. Safe helium concentrations are regulated by standards and guidelines from health and occupational safety organizations, aimed at protecting workers from the risks associated with this gas.
According to guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and similar organizations, the concentration of helium in the air should not exceed 1% by volume to ensure safety. This is the concentration level that workers can be exposed to for long periods without experiencing serious health problems. When the helium concentration in the air exceeds this level, especially in confined or poorly ventilated areas, it can lead to oxygen deficiency and respiratory problems.
To maintain helium concentrations within safe limits, production facilities and laboratories need to implement strict control measures. This includes installing effective ventilation systems, regularly checking helium concentrations in the air, and training employees on preventive measures when working with this gas. Additionally, using personal protective equipment such as respiratory masks can help protect workers from inhaling high concentrations of helium.
It should also be noted that, although helium is considered safe at low concentrations, prolonged exposure to high concentrations or in uncontrolled conditions can lead to health problems. Therefore, organizations and businesses need to monitor and adjust helium concentrations in the work environment closely to ensure the health and safety of workers.
At a basic level, if working in an industrial environment, adhering to safety standards and limiting exposure to Helium is important. Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States provide guidelines and safety principles to protect workers from the negative impacts of chemical substances.
6. Measures to minimize the effects of Helium on worker health
To minimize the impact of helium on worker health, implementing preventive and control measures is very important. These measures not only help protect worker health but also ensure a safe and effective work environment.
First, maintaining an effective ventilation system in work areas is one of the main measures to control helium concentration. Good ventilation helps remove accumulated helium from the air and provides clean, oxygen-rich air for workers. Especially in enclosed areas or areas with high helium concentrations, installing exhaust fans or mechanical ventilation systems is necessary to ensure fresh air.
Second, regularly monitoring and checking helium concentrations in the air is another important measure. Helium gas concentration measuring devices should be used to continuously monitor helium levels in the workplace air. This helps detect abnormal concentration levels early and implement timely corrective measures to prevent incidents.
In addition, training and raising awareness among workers about the risks and preventive measures related to helium are also essential. Workers need to be equipped with knowledge on how to recognize signs of overexposure to helium, as well as how to use personal protective equipment effectively.
Using personal protective equipment, such as respiratory masks or protective suits, is an important protective measure in work environments with high helium concentrations. Protective equipment helps minimize the risk of inhaling helium gas and protects workers from the negative impacts of this gas.
These measures combined not only help minimize the risks associated with helium but also ensure the health and safety of workers in the work environment. Applying these measures effectively is key to maintaining a safe and productive workplace.
Occupational safety training: Workers need to be trained and educated about the risks and safety measures when working with this type of chemical. This training should be provided periodically and regularly to ensure understanding and proper compliance with safety rules.
Periodically organize workplace environment monitoring in factories and enterprises, collect and analyze factors harmful to workers, and from there, adjust to reduce hazard levels to prevent occupational diseases for them.
7. National workplace environment monitoring center
Nam Viet’s workplace environment monitoring center is a professional unit for monitoring and measuring workplace environment quality across all provinces in Vietnam. With a team of experienced monitoring specialists, the center uses modern measuring equipment, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
REGISTER FOR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT MONITORING SERVICE
In addition to providing monitoring services, the center also supports clients in planning, handling, and tracking workplace environment issues. With the motto “the customer is the center,” the center focuses on customer satisfaction, meets all client needs, and commits to providing the best solutions for businesses.
With investment in techniques, technology, and human resources, Nam Viet’s monitoring center has been and is becoming one of the reputable units in the field of workplace environment monitoring in Ho Chi Minh City with the following objectives:
- We always value our brand reputation and the quality of our products and services.
- We provide our customers with the best and most suitable things possible.
- Along with a team of experienced and specialized Masters and Engineers with a desire to protect the environment and benefit businesses.
- Coming to Nam Viet’s Environmental Monitoring team, your company will receive professional service from experts in the monitoring field. At the same time, you will get the best cost incentives.
8. Workplace environment monitoring quotation
To help businesses conduct workplace environment monitoring professionally and effectively, Nam Viet offers our valued customers a quality and reasonably priced quotation table for workplace environment monitoring services.
- Our monitoring quotation table provides detailed information about the prices of the monitoring services we offer. This includes costs related to travel, measurement, analysis, and reporting of results. Customers can be completely assured of the accuracy and reliability of the monitoring result reports we provide.
- We commit to always offering the most competitive and reasonable prices on the market, and we are always ready to advise and answer any questions about monitoring services quickly and professionally.
- With Nam Viet’s monitoring quotation table, customers can easily choose service packages that suit their needs. We commit to bringing our customers the highest satisfaction with professional service quality.
