What should be done if flammable vapors are detected during the purging process?

When flammable vapors are detected during the purging process, the immediate response should be to stop the operation. This is crucial because the presence of flammable vapors indicates a significant risk of fire or explosion. Continuing the purging process or increasing the gas flow rate can exacerbate the situation by introducing more flammable material into the area, potentially leading to an ignition source reacting with the vapors.

Stopping the operation allows for a safe assessment of the situation, ensuring that proper measures can be taken to ventilate the area, identify the source of the flammable vapors, and implement safety protocols before attempting to resume work. Safety is the priority in handling situations involving flammable materials, and taking prompt action to halt operations mitigates the risk of a hazardous incident.