CO2Meter is committed to providing partners not only with quality gas detection solutions, but the right safety resources and gas training to go along with it. That's why we offer unique in-person offsite or on-site training programs for gas safety professionals, distributors, and sales teams to stay on top of the latest safety practices in the industry.
With gas safety training and guidelines in place, partners can safeguard personnel, prevent gas accidents, comply with regulations, drive added revenue, enhance reputation, and uncover cost savings. It is a critical program that benefits both the distributors and the communities they serve.
Since 2006, CO2Meter has kept safety at the forefront and is proud to continue to focus on all aspects of gas safety in providing education to partners that encompasses everything from recognizing potential gas hazards, gaining safe handling procedures, understanding regulatory gas safety standards, and ensuring proper SOPs are in place for gas safety monitoring.
Benefits of Gas Safety Training and Education
Gas safety training for distributors holds many unique benefits such as:
- Safety of Personnel: Gas distributors handle various types of gases, some of which can be hazardous if mishandled. Training ensures that distributors understand the properties of different gases, as well as the appropriate handling, storage, and transportation procedures to mitigate risks in the field.
- Prevention of Accidents: Mishandling of gases can lead to accidents such as leaks, fires, explosions, or exposure to hazardous concentrations. Proper training equips distributors with the knowledge and skills to identify potential hazards, prevent accidents, and respond effectively in emergency situations.
- Compliance with Regulations: Gas safety regulations vary by region, but they typically require distributors to undergo training to ensure compliance with safety standards. Failure to comply can result in legal penalties, fines, or even the suspension of business operations. Comprehensive training helps distributors stay up to date with regulatory requirements.
- Protection of Property and Environment: Gas-related incidents can cause damage to property and harm to the environment. Distributors who are trained in gas safety are better equipped to prevent accidents that could result in property damage, environmental contamination, or other negative impacts.
- Customer Safety: Gas distributors often supply gases to various industries and customers. Ensuring the safe handling and delivery of gases protects the safety of end-users, including businesses, households, and individuals who rely on these gases for various purposes.
- Reputation and Trust: Demonstrating a commitment to gas safety through comprehensive training enhances the reputation and trustworthiness of distributors in the eyes of customers, stakeholders, and regulatory authorities. It signals that the distributor takes safety seriously and prioritizes the well-being of its employees and their customers.
- Cost Savings: Investing in gas safety training can ultimately result in cost savings for distributors by reducing the likelihood of accidents, injuries, property damage, and legal liabilities. Training helps to minimize downtime, repair costs, insurance premiums, and other expenses associated with safety incidents.
Frequency of Gas Safety Training
When it comes to gas safety training, employees and partners should remain up-to-date on the most current safety guidelines and procedures. CO2Meter recommends both individuals and teams partake in trainings on an annual basis. These gas safety training programs should be completed by both new and existing personnel to gain the continued knowledge and skills needed to prevent workplace hazards from occurring.
CO2Meter's training program further provides awareness about how to identify and prevent hazards in the field. It educates distributors and partners with the necessary tools to look for, avoid, and prevent hazards common in the workplace due to the presence of gas at high concentrations.
What You'll Learn
When it comes to gas safety training and education, one core element is understanding gas safety hazards and the regulations that have been created due to incidents in the field.
By understanding these codes and regulations, partners and gas distributors will know what to do to ensure code compliance and protection. The goal is to keep facilities safe and that requires a constant understanding of the continual code updates and their editions.
These regulations stem specifically from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Board Inspection Code (NBIC), and the International Fire Code (IFC) who have all utilized recommendations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) exposure limits to require gas safety monitors to be set in place.
In addition, potential exposure to high levels of gas concentrations can lead to several adverse effects on the body due to its impact on the body's respiratory system such as:
- Respiratory Distress: High levels of can interfere with the body's ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs. This can result in difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and respiratory distress.
- Headache and Dizziness: Increased gas levels can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and lightheadedness. These symptoms may be the body's response to reduced oxygen intake.
- Increased Heart Rate: To compensate for reduced oxygen concentrations, the heart may start beating faster to deliver oxygen to critical organs. This increased heart rate can lead to palpitations and also an elevated pulse.
- Confusion and Disorientation: Prolonged exposure to high levels of gas concentrations can directly affect brain function, leading to confusion, disorientation, and impaired cognitive abilities.
- Loss of Consciousness: In extreme cases, particularly when gas levels are very high, prolonged exposure can result in loss of consciousness or even death due to oxygen deprivation.
Importance of Gas Safety Monitoring
The importance of a gas safety monitor lies in its ability to protect partners, customers, and facilities to ensure safety in environments where elevated levels of gas concentrations can occur. Here are just a few reasons why we also touch on gas safety monitoring in our trainings and the importance of using them in the workplace:
- Health and Safety: Many gases like Carbon Dioxide are hazardous, which means they can displace oxygen in the air and lead to oxygen deprivation. High levels of CO2 can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and in extreme cases, loss of consciousness or death. CO2 gas safety alarms provide an early warning, allowing individuals to take immediate action to avoid prolonged exposure and potential health risks.
- Ventilation Monitoring: Gas safety alarms can be particularly important in spaces where proper ventilation is crucial. Areas such as restaurants, manufacturing plants, indoor greenhouses, laboratories, or confined spaces may have limited airflow or be occupied by many people, leading to increased levels. Monitoring gas concentrations can help ensure that ventilation systems are functioning effectively or prompt individuals to take measures to improve air circulation.
- Compliance with Regulations: In some jurisdictions or industries, there may be specific regulations or guidelines concerning gas levels in certain settings. Gas safety alarms can help organizations comply with these regulations and maintain a safe working or living environment. Compliance not only ensures the well-being of occupants but also helps mitigate legal and liability risks.
- Early Warning System: Gas safety alarms provide an early warning in the event of equipment malfunctions or leaks that may lead to an increase in gas concentration. This early detection allows for timely intervention, preventing potential accidents, property damage, or harm to individuals.
Overall, gas safety alarms play a crucial role in safeguarding human health, ensuring adequate ventilation, and maintaining a safe and comfortable environment across various applications. By alerting individuals to elevated gas levels, these alarms enable prompt action to mitigate risks and prevent potential harm to workers.
How to Get Started
Regardless of which gas safety training course you wish to pursue, the process for signing up for a training session is the same. Here is a brief overview:
- Choose which is right for you on-site at your location or off-site at our facility
- Determine whom you would wish to enroll (sales, operations, management teams)
- Contact us and describe your interest, location option, and team count - a CO2Meter instructor will reach out to you within 24-hours.
- Maintain an annual training cadence for your team - both new and existing personnel should partake in continual gas safety best practices and education trainings.
Gas Distributors Share Their Stories
We have received ample feedback from our partners and distributors on how our gas safety training programs have helped their businesses. Below we share a few examples from our valued partners on how our program has helped protect their staff and employees in the field.
Helget Gas Products
At Helget Gas, CO2Meter provided an on-site visit and presented gas safety training combined with sales best practices to keep their staff, customers, and customers' teams safe from the hazards of gases, like CO2. In December of 2023, the Southeast Sales Team at Helget also visited CO2Meter headquarters and participated in a similar safety training and team building program.
Overall, many great discussions were had from both Helget's sales teams and learning from each other’s experiences - working together to educate on the topic of gas safety and for the Helget team to gain further knowledge and preparation when out in the field.
Post-training Helget Gas has been able to add further value for its customers in sharing core education and safety protocols, as well as see an incremental add in revenue to their bottom line from gas safety monitoring solutions.
"We're proud to have had the opportunity to invest in our sales executives' professional development with CO2Meter safety training and appreciate them for investing in our people." - Shaun Albeck, Sales Executive, Helget Gas.
Leonard's Syrups
At Leonard's Syrups, CO2Meter provided an on-site visit at their Detroit location to further aid their staff in providing customers with the necessary safety guidelines when working near gas and helped their internal team with technical best practices for using gas safety monitoring solutions.
Overall, many guidelines were shared regarding what to do in the event of a potential incident, what regulations teams should consider and how to further safeguard their staff when encountering CO2. The training was critical across many areas for installers, technicians, and CO2 delivery drivers which head major accounts and work in environments like walk-in beer coolers and CO2 tank locations.
Post-training Leonard's mentioned the value of the gas safety training for bringing both staff and clients operational peace of mind and an easier relationship with their local inspection agencies. They now have the most up-to-date gas safety education and technical backing to mitigate potential hazards from occurring in the field.
"As a 54-year-old company, we have seen great changes in our business lines over the decades. Yet, we have found one of the most important things to our clients is to make certain THEIR clients and employees are able to enjoy a safe experience in their businesses, with minimal disruption. It is important to us to do the right thing and using CO2Meter solutions for protection IS the right thing for both our clients, their guests, AND our employees." - Leonard Bugajewski, CEO and Co-Founder, Leonard's Syrups.
For more information on gas safety monitoring or gain more information on CO2Meter's gas safety training program for your facility, speak to a CO2Meter specialist at Sales@CO2Meter.com or call us directly at (877) 678-4259