Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) is found in various workplace environments, especially where organic matter decomposes. For example, anaerobic digestion plants, slurry pits and offshore environments.
H₂S is also a by-product of several industrial processes, including petroleum refining, mining, tanning, wood pulp processing, rayon production, sugar-beet processing, and hot asphalt paving.
Hydrogen Sulphide gas is commonly found during the drilling and production of crude oil and natural gas, plus in wastewater treatment and utility facilities and sewers.
However, H₂S is a potential hazard in a wide range of industries and work environments, including, but not limited to:
- Animal fat and oil processing
- Asphalt storage
- Blast furnaces
- Breweries and fermentation processes
- Chemical production (including phosphate purification, hydrochloric acid purification, cellophane, rubber, plastics, soap, silk, photoengraving, glues, textile printing, etc)
- Clean-up activities of organic/sulphur containing slurry/sludge
- Coal gasification plants
- Coke ovens
- Farms and livestock operations
- Fertiliser production
- Fishing vessel holds
- Geothermal plants and utilities
- Landfills of municipal/farm/organic waste
- Metal processing
- Oil and gas (including crude oil refineries, handling plants and pipelines)
- Pulp and paper production
- Sewage treatment plants
- Slaughterhouses and rendering plants
- Sugar production
- Sulphur and hydrogen sulphide production
- Tanneries
- Waste treatment operations