AWARENESS COURSE
HYDROGEN SULPHIDE (H₂S) AWARENESS
Recognise the hazard, understand the controls, and respond correctly to an alarm or suspected release.
Poseidon Training in-house course. It is not an OPITO course, it is not OPITO-approved and it carries no external accreditation. It is not equivalent to any OPITO H₂S product.
Overview
Hydrogen sulphide can incapacitate quickly at high concentrations, and smell cannot be relied on to warn you. This four-hour course gives anyone who works in, visits, supervises or plans work where H₂S may be present the knowledge to recognise the hazard, understand how it is monitored and controlled, and respond to an alarm or suspected release without putting themselves or others at greater risk.
It is a theory course. It does not include breathing apparatus, gas testing or rescue practice, and it does not replace your site induction or your employer's H₂S procedures.
Who it is for
Anyone who may be exposed to hydrogen sulphide at work, in oil and gas production, drilling, well services, gas processing, refineries, petrochemicals, terminals, pipelines, tank farms, wastewater and sewage systems, geothermal operations and other process industries.
What the course covers
- 1.H₂S fundamentals: what hydrogen sulphide is, its properties, where it is found in oil and gas operations and how it behaves when released.
- 2.Hazards and health effects: routes of exposure, acute effects, why smell must never be relied on, olfactory fatigue and paralysis, and fire hazards.
- 3.Exposure limits and measurement: ppm, time-weighted averages, short-term and ceiling limits, and IDLH. Limits differ between authorities and countries, and the course teaches you to check the requirement that applies to you.
- 4.Detection and monitoring: fixed, portable and personal detectors, alarms, the limits of monitors, and why bump testing and calibration are done by competent people.
- 5.Risk control: risk assessment, the hierarchy of controls, permits, wind direction and escape planning, muster, signage and controlled areas.
- 6.Respiratory and escape equipment awareness: what SCBA, supplied-air equipment and escape sets are for, their limits, and why selection, fit testing and training matter.
- 7.Emergency response and escape: what to do on an alarm, stopping work, moving away upwind or crosswind, escape routes, muster, and why unauthorised rescue attempts are dangerous.
- 8.Casualty response: rescuer safety, removal from exposure by protected and authorised rescuers, fresh air and urgent medical attention, and first-aid priorities within your existing competence.
How the course runs
Instructor-led, with discussion, scenarios and short activities. The instructor may show a monitor display or equipment for demonstration; learners do not handle gas, wear breathing apparatus or use escape sets.
The course ends with a 20-question interactive knowledge review. There is no pass mark and no score. The instructor uses the review to find and close any gaps in understanding before the course finishes. You complete the course by attending the full four hours, taking part in the review, and having your understanding of the safety principles confirmed by the instructor. If anything remains unclear, the instructor arranges further review. This is not a fail.
Upcoming H₂S Awareness dates
H₂S Awareness dates are being scheduled.
We are finalising the next public course dates. Register your interest and we will contact you as soon as dates are released.
Arranging training for an organisation? Group and private delivery can be discussed at any time.
What this course does not qualify you to do
Awareness level only. This certificate does not qualify the holder to undertake rescue, enter an H₂S or IDLH atmosphere, use breathing apparatus operationally, or test or certify atmospheres.
These activities need separate training, competence and authorisation from your organisation.
No. It is a Poseidon Training in-house awareness course. It is not an OPITO course, it is not OPITO-approved and it is not equivalent to any OPITO H₂S product. If your employer or client requires a specific H₂S course, check with them before booking.
No. The course is theory only. It explains what breathing and escape equipment is for and why rescue must be left to trained, protected responders, but learners do not wear equipment or practise rescue.