Blog

Respond to Symptoms with Toxic Gas Detection in San Jose, CA

In any setting where there is a potential for exposure to toxic chemicals or gas, it is essential that business owners, employees and other individuals who are around be aware of the symptoms and signs of exposure. Toxic gas exposure can manifest itself in many different ways and, if left undiagnosed or untreated, it can cause serious harm and might even be fatal. In order to avoid the dangerous risks associated with toxic gas exposure, always make sure that you are in tune to any potential signs and symptoms and install monitoring systems for effective toxic gas detection in San Jose, CA.

Signs that you have been exposed to toxic gas

There are several different ways that you might come into contact with toxic gas. The main methods of exposure are inhalation, contact with skin or eyes and ingestion. Inhalation can occur by breathing in chemicals in the form of airborne mists, gases or dusts. When chemicals come into contact with the skin or eyes, they can enter the bloodstream and cause problems. Ingestion occurs when chemicals come into contact with and contaminate food or drinks that are then consumed. There are several gas detection symptoms in San Jose, CA to watch out for:

  • Skin irritation: Skin issues caused by exposure to harmful chemicals and toxic gases include things like redness, itchiness, dryness and rashes. In some cases, exposure to toxic gases might even cause skin cancer, which is why it is essential to limit the chance of exposure as much as possible.
  • Respiratory problems: Coughing, shortness of breath, sneezing, sore throat, wheezing and lung cancer are all respiratory problems that are caused by toxic gas exposure. Anyone experiencing these symptoms, especially after they were in contact with toxic gas or chemical fumes, should seek medical help as soon as possible.
  • Headaches: Toxic gas exposure often leads to irritation of the head or eyes in the form of headaches, dizziness, red and watery eyes and a grainy feeling in the eyes. A common cause of symptoms relating to the head and eyes is exposure to chemical paint fumes, although other toxic gases can also cause these issues.
  • Nervous system issues: Issues related to the nervous system are typically a result of exposure to toxic gas over prolonged periods of time. Irritability, sleeplessness, tremors, nervousness and loss of balance or coordination are all signs of damage to the nervous system.
  • Nausea: Nausea is another common symptom of exposure to toxic fumes. If you have symptoms such as a stomachache or vomiting, it’s possible that toxic gas exposure may be the cause.

Exposure to toxic gas can lead to serious health issues and, in some cases, can result in death. Avoid these problems by investing in reliable toxic gas detection in San Jose, CA. For detection and monitoring systems that you can trust to keep your workplace safe, contact MDC Systems Inc. We offer customized gas monitoring that is designed to fit your business’ needs. Contact us today and get started with a free estimate.

Do You Need Carbon Monoxide Detectors in San Jose, CA?

Carbon monoxide is a gas that is colorless and odorless and is produced as a result of the burning of fossil fuels. While small amounts of carbon monoxide can be produced as a result of natural processes and are generally not a reason for concern, carbon monoxide that appears in higher levels can be dangerous and even deadly. For this reason, homes and residential complexes, as well as many industrial and commercial businesses, should all be safeguarded by the use of carbon monoxide detectors in San Jose, CA.

If you’re unsure whether your business needs to have a detection system installed, there are several factors that you should take into account. Even if there aren’t any regulations requiring that you have monitors for your specific business or building, investing in detection may still be the best option.

The importance of detection

Perhaps the most pressing case for carbon monoxide detectors in San Jose, CA is the fact that carbon monoxide can easily go unnoticed, even at dangerous levels. It is both colorless and odorless, which means that it might not be observed until it begins to cause symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Most of the regulations regarding carbon monoxide detection have to do with residential complexes, homes or other dwelling spaces, though these aren’t the only places that are susceptible to carbon monoxide at dangerous levels. Oftentimes, carbon monoxide poisoning occurs as a result of improper ventilation around the burning of fossil fuels. This can be observed in enclosed parking garages with minimal circulation or in confined spaces where generators or other equipment that burns fossil fuels are used.

Reasons why your business might need detection systems

If your business is not a hospitality property like a motel or a bed and breakfast, there are still certain factors that might make your business more vulnerable to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. In order to safeguard your business and your employees against the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, make sure that you adhere to local and state regulations regarding ventilation and equipment use. Additionally, you should look into reliable carbon monoxide detection in San Jose, CA if any of the following statements are true for your business.

  • Your employees use propane-powered equipment
  • Your business includes an enclosed parking area
  • You operate a warehouse facility
  • Your business is intended to house people
  • Your equipment uses burning fuel

At MDC Systems Inc., we understand the importance of keeping businesses and employees safe from exposure to toxic gas and high levels of carbon monoxide. For years, we have been providing our clients with safe and effective detection and monitoring solutions to keep their workplaces safe and give them peace of mind. Our trained team of professionals is highly skilled at inspecting your space and installing a monitoring or detection system that works for your specific needs. If you’re ready to invest in carbon monoxide detection in San Jose, CA for your business, give us a call and get your free estimate.

Six Benefits of Gas Detectors in San Jose, CA

If your industrial systems have the potential to produce deadly fumes, you need gas detectors in San Jose, CA. While some of this is linked with legal compliance, you also want a safe workplace. MDC Systems Inc. creates gas detection systems that reflect the potential dangers of your manufacturing or production. Here are six benefits gas detectors can bring to you:

  • Addresses all hazards: Dangers of gas leak include toxicity, oxygen depletion and flammability. None of these have a happy ending if they are left undiscovered and uncontrolled. Toxicity poisons on contact, and oxygen depletion replaces breathable oxygen with toxic fumes, which causes serious injury or death. Flammability is a different hazard on its own. If you have gas detectors where danger is most likely, you will enjoy a safer workplace.
  • Ability to warn: Gas detection systems provide continuous monitoring, and many alert you to changes through a smart phone app. The primary benefit to this is warning. If there is a gas leak that can be dangerous to a worker who is assigned to the boiler room, that worker can learn about it before getting exposed. With this system, you can keep people off the premises and protect those who address the problem. You do not have to expose people to learn about the danger.
  • Early detection: The longer a gas leak continues, the more dangerous it becomes. Gas monitors report all changes, so you will know when there is a slight increase or if a new gas emerges. While many gas leaks may be sudden and intense, there are slow leaks, too. With a system that picks up the changes before they escalate, you can solve small problems before they become serious.
  • Reduced expenses: The monitoring system reduces the amount of time needed for inspection and assessment. When this work was performed manually, it was time consuming and not always finished accurately. Gas detectors run continuously, and there are systems that give day-end reports so you know the status of your indoor air quality. This reduces labor costs, as well as any expenses associated with remediation.
  • Legal compliance: Depending on your industry, you are likely required to have a gas monitoring system. If you choose something high-tech and accurate, that will make being in line with these laws much easier. You never need to worry about someone skipping steps in a routine or minor changes being missed. Any time there is an inspection to check compliance, you will be ready because your gas detectors are already operating for you.
  • Safer workplaces: Early detection, warning systems and continuous monitoring enhance your indoor air quality. Keeping workers healthy and avoiding this danger reduces your insurance premiums, including any you pay towards workers’ compensation. A safe workplace is also a productive one since your employees will never worry about facing danger.

To find gas detectors in San Jose, CA for your business, call MDC Systems Inc. today. We offer free estimates and can design systems that match your needs.

Protect the Environment with Gas Monitors in San Jose, CA

Gas monitors are not just a vital part of your workplace safety system—they can save the environment, too. Businesses that handle toxic substances risk putting their communities in danger if leaks are not dealt with swiftly. You want to keep your premises safe, but also avoid causing impacts to your surrounding area. Here are five benefits that gas monitors in San Jose, CA offer the environment:

  • Reduce air hazards: Without an effective monitoring system, air quality decreases in your workplace. Indoor air pollution is a substantial hazard that leads to workers’ compensation claims, especially if you have employees who suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments. Since toxic gases travel, they can affect homes and businesses around you, too. These situations become expensive on your insurance policies and overall reputation. With the emphasis on corporate responsibility today, a citywide or even block-wide gas leak will not do your bottom line any favors. Protect air quality and be a good corporate citizen.
  • Supports quick responses: The longer a leak occurs, the more likely it is dangerous to the environment. Gas monitoring systems frequently include smart phone apps which will alert you to changes. Even if a leak has not reached dangerous levels, you will be notified if the gas output increases at your site. This allows you to address problems before they become serious and poison others. Also, if a new gas presents itself, you can check on the systems and stop it before other dangerous conditions arise.
  • Low power demands: Another nice element of gas monitoring systems is that they do not require substantial power to operate. There are low-voltage systems designed to detect flammable gases while also having low operating costs. You can purchase good gas monitors without worrying about high utility bills each month. Energy efficiency goes beyond those expenses and reduces the demand on our resources, which benefits the environment overall.
  • Reduce fire hazards: Fire is a destructive force, and in California, it has been especially dangerous. If we face a dry summer and you need to monitor flammable gases, a good system will allow you to discover the problem and get it under control before something goes up in flames. This has the benefit of preserving habitats and property that could be destroyed if your gas leak leads to a giant conflagration. Also, smoke from fires causes poor air quality, which is another environmental danger no one wishes to suffer.
  • Protect wildlife: Good air quality protects people, but also wildlife. If your business is in a remote area you share with birds and deer, any gas leak will have a substantial effect on them. Gas leaks have killed numerous songbirds before, and even decimated threatened species. By keeping dangerous gases controlled, you do a favor for every living thing around you.

MDC Systems Inc. sells and installs gas monitors in San Jose, CA for different businesses. If you need a system that keeps your community and workplace safer, call us today to see what we can do for you.

Silent Killers: Toxic Gas Exposure in the Workplace

The risk of exposure to toxic gases on commercial and industrial sites in San Jose, California, is very high. And, as with any other potential work hazard, employers are responsible for the safety of their employees in the event that a toxic gas leak should occur. The three most commonly found toxic gases on industrial sites include carbon monoxide, chlorine and methane. Below is an overview of these three gases and symptoms of exposure that you should be aware of.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is probably the most well known toxic gas because of its universal presence everywhere from homes to industrial sites. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. Carbon monoxide is often present at commercial an industrial sites because it is created through the burning of such substances as oil, coal, propane and natural gas, all of which are commonly present in industrial settings. Below are symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure to be aware of:

  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness

Prolonged exposure due to an undetected presence of carbon monoxide can result in loss of consciousness and even death. To keep employees safe, it is essential to have gas detectors in San Jose, CA that can detect carbon monoxide early on and alert employees to a leak.

Chlorine

Chlorine is one of the most-manufactured substances in the U.S. and is commonly used while making pesticides and many types of rubber. Just like with carbon monoxide, overexposure to chlorine can be deadly. Early symptoms of chlorine exposure include the following:

  • Blurred vision
  • Coughing
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Fluid in the lungs

Most symptoms of chlorine exposure do not present themselves until hours after the exposure has occurred. By then, severe physical damage may have already taken place. Again, the best way to prevent overexposure to chlorine is to have a gas detection system in place to warn employees of a leak before overexposure occurs.

Methane

Methane is a dangerous and highly explosive gas. Methane exposure is most common among miners, but it can occur in any industry where coal cutting occurs. Methane in small quantities is not necessarily dangerous, but methane levels can rise quickly and often without warning. Symptoms of methane exposure to watch out for include the following:

  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Headache

Although methane can usually be detected by a strong rotten egg odor, by the time the smell is noticeable, it usually means there is already a dangerously high level of the gas present. Because methane is toxic as well as explosive, gas detectors should be present on any site where methane exposure is a possibility.

The best protection against exposure to toxic gases in the workplace is early detection. Although some toxic gas leaks can be detected without a gas detector, by that time overexposure has most likely already occurred. To best protect your employees and avoid a deadly accident, invest in gas detectors in San Jose, CA. To schedule your installation or to learn more, give MDC Systems Inc. a call today!