by Megan Hine, Business Development Manager Clean Energy, Dräger
Successfully delivering an energy transition that decarbonises the economy, provides good jobs and halts climate change depends on the safe expansion of carbon capture and storage (CCS). The safe expansion of carbon capture depends on prioritising people.
When it comes to safety, there’s often a gap between feeling safe and being safe. A process designed to protect our climate but that introduces new challenges, CCS highlights that gap clearly. Addressing these challenges is critical to both worker safety and public confidence.
CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere have now reached levels not seen in 800,000 years, climbing past 412 parts per million in recent decades. This rapid rise is the main driver of global warming, which makes CCS an essential piece of any climate strategy. But as facilities scale up, focus must extend beyond environmental impact to managing the very real risks of handling CO₂.
Understanding the invisible risk
At first glance, CO₂ can seem less dangerous than familiar toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) or carbon monoxide (CO). It isn’t actually classified as acutely toxic under the Global Harmonised System (GHS), but this can create a false sense of security. In reality, concentrated CO₂ poses a double threat: it displaces oxygen and directly affects human physiology.
Because CO₂ is about 60% heavier than air, it sinks into low-lying areas (pits, trenches, or cellars) and can linger there. Leaks can build concentrations quickly: at 10% unconsciousness can set in within minutes, and at 17–30% exposure can be fatal. Unlike simple asphyxiants such as nitrogen, CO₂ actively disrupts breathing, triggering rapid onset of hypercapnia and unconsciousness. That makes it both deceptive and dangerous.
The 2020 pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi underscored these risks, when CO₂ released over several hours spread through the surrounding area, leaving residents disoriented and struggling to breathe, even a mile from the leak. The event served as a warning of what can happen when communities and workers are unprepared.
Detection is the first line of defence
Protecting people begins with robust detection systems. Because CO₂ sinks, sensors must be installed low to the ground, close to where gas would accumulate. Modern detectors use infrared technology tuned specifically for CO₂, with filters that distinguish hazardous spikes from normal background levels.
Crucially, relying solely on oxygen monitors, which typically trigger at 19% and 17%, is not enough as by the time levels drop that far, CO₂ concentrations may already exceed that level, causing unconsciousness within minutes. Treating CO₂ only as an asphyxiant risks missing its toxic effects.
Relevant: Senate Unveils Pipeline Safety Act Amid Rising Concerns Over CO2 Transport Risks
Even the best detection system is only as strong as the people using it; worker training and awareness are essential. Knowing that CO₂ collects at low levels, understanding how it affects the body and recognising symptoms early can save lives. Facilities must also consult experts when selecting monitoring systems and establish protocols that put worker safety at the centre of CCS operations.
By combining robust detection with training and awareness, we can close the gap between feeling safe and being safe, protecting both the planet and those working to protect it.
Read more: ThermoPhys Simplifies CO2 Safety Modeling with User-Friendly Software
