In addition, there are hazards from the pressure of the gas and the physical weight of the cylinder. Injury caused by fall of gas cylinders during handling. Boxes, cartons, and other items used to support small cylinders must not allow water. Many of the odourless and colourless gases are highly toxic.
Handling, storage, and use of compressed gas cylinders air products. A firewall partition 5 feet high with a halfhour rating can be substituted. Gases under pressure compressed gas classification of the substance or mixture. Safety will also work with purchasing to ensure that all newly purchased compressed gas cylinders equipment and supplies comply with current safety regulations and this safety policy and procedure. Present this safety talk near fuel gas cylinders on site if possible. Are safety relief devices in the valve or on the cylinder free from any indication of tampering. Compressed gases may present both physical and health hazards. Secure all cylinders by a chain, strap, or on a cart regardless of tank size reportreplace all cylinders in questionable condition. Oct 27, 2014 mishandling compressed gas cylinders which can have internal pressure of up to 2,500 pounds per square inch can be disastrous. This program covers requirements which must be followed for the use of all compressed gases. Compressed gas cylinder safe handling, use and storage september, 2017 safety resources page 4 of 29 fire and explosion hazards. Compressed gas cylinders are a common fixture in research laboratories. Oregon plus s fact sheet fact sheet compressed gas safety.
Gas cylinder safety environmental health and safety. Compressed gas and equipment occupational safety and health. As such it is imperative to understand safe handling, transportation and use of compressed gas cylinders. This gas cylinder safety guide will walk you through the most important regulations and guidelines for storing and handling gas cylinders. Their contents can present chemical hazards flammable, toxic, corrosive and the cylinders could present a physical hazard. Compressed gas cylinder safe handling, use and storage. All cylinders must be stored vertical, top up across the upper half the cylinder but below the shoulder. She standard d4 compressed gas cylinders page 2 of 6 this is an uncontrolled copy when printed. Connie muncy, a certified industrial hygienist, is the safety officer for montgomery county sanitary engineering wa. Describes some safe work practices for working with compressed gas cylinders. Use the right equipment, correct procedures, and sufficient number of persons to lift and move cylinders to avoid personal injury and cylinder damage.
In addition, there are hazards from the pressure of the gas and the physical weight of the. Mishandling compressed gas cylinders which can have internal pressure of up to 2,500 pounds per square inch can be disastrous. If the valve breaks, the sudden release of compressed gas can turn it into a. Compressed cylinder safety this presentation contains photos of poor practices in the storage and handling of compressed gas cylinders. Cylinder manufacturers include engraved markings on cylinders to allow proper identification of substances in the container. Gas cylinder safety guidelines iowa state university. Sheets and your departments job safety analyses jsas. Compressed gas cylinders safe handling and storage hubspot. Compressed gases are capable of creating environments that are explosive, reactive, flammable, oxidizing, oxygen deficient, extremely cold, corrosive or otherwise extremely hazardous to health, depending upon the product contained in the cylinder. Before using any compressed gas, be familiar with the respective safety data sheet sds for.
Compressed gas cylinders present numerous hazards and can contain gases that are. Founded in 19, the compressed gas association is dedicated to the development and promotion of safety standards in the industrial, medical, and food gases industry. Cylinders must be kept away from actual hot work area to protect from sparks, slag, etc. Certain specific properties of compressed gases make them highly useful in various research activities. The storage, handling, use, and inspection of compressed gas must follow the compressed gas association cga guidelines referenced in oar 4370022101, compressed gases general requirements, division 2h. Are cylinder valves closed at all times, except when the valve is in use. Ucla is committed to provide safety guidelines concerning the handling and use of portable compressed gas cylinders. Program to cover general procedures for the safe handling and storage of all compressed gas cylinders and provide recommended safe. The majority of incidents and injuries involving gas cylinders occur during handling or transportation. Safe handling of compressed gases in the laboratory and plant. Firmly secure the cylinder and move with a suitable. Do all compressed gas cylinders have safety pressure relief valves.
The phone number and web site of the cga are located at the end of this sheet in the information sources section. A durable label should be provided that cannot be removed from the compressed gas cylinder. Never force improper attachments on to the wrong cylinder. A flame should never come in contact with any part of a compressed gas cylinder. Cdc niosh publications and products safety checklist. Compressed gas cylinder safety program protect iu indiana. A compressed gas is defined by the occupational health and safety administration osha per 29 cfr 1910. Compressed gas cylinders range from small lecture bottles to large cylinders with more than 200 cubic feet of gas. If a neck of a pressurized cylinder should be accidentally broken off, the energy released would be sufficient to propel the cylinder to over threequarters of a mile in. Are all compressed gas cylinders stored so they do not interfere with exit paths. Transportation valve protection caps must be in place when compressed gas cylinders are transported. Compressed gas storage must be limited to 300 cubic feet in each smoke compartment unless the gas is in immediate use by patients or stored in a gas storage room. Please refer to the sop for acutely toxic gases if applicable.
Keep cylinders upright and away from heat, sparks, fire, physical damage, or. These guidelines need to be followed in order to protect people, property and the environment from emergencies involving gas cylinders as well as ensuring compliance with relevant legislation. Even though the gas may be nontoxic, it could create a lethal oxygendeficient atmosphere by displacement of air. Compressed gas cylinders, portable tanks, and cargo tanks shall have pressure relief devices installed and maintained in accordance with compressed gas association pamphlets cga s1. Compressed gas cylinder safety manual, including successfully completing all training requirements set forth therein. Cylinders of compressed gases must be handled as high energy sources. It is the responsibility of any staff, faculty, student or guest of the university, involved in the use, handling or storage of compressed gas cylinders to abide by the.
Whenever practical, the marking shall be located on the shoulder of the cylinder osha standard 29 cfr 1910. Safe handling of compressed gases in the laboratory. Gas properties always refer to safety data sheets hydrogen 0. Secure compressed gas cylinders in an upright position on an. Do not move cylinders if you cannot do so with ease. Compressed gas safety program ohio state university. Talk to your gas supplier about handson training and other useful safety information. Always store compressed gas cylinders in a secure upright position. Pressure compressed gas cylinders are filled to a pressure of 200300 atmospheres gas density read, understand, and follow the markings on the cylinder, the labels on the cylinder, and the safety data sheet sds to avoid misuse.
Gas cylinders are typically found in two sizes, e cylinders capacity. The osha hazard communication standard defines a compressed gas as. Sample compressed gas cylinder inspection checklist. Employers are responsible for safe use of compressed gas cylinders and liquid containers and their contents. Label all cylinders with contents and stage of use e. Wear protective footwear, safety glasses, and heavy gloves. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the contents, but there have been three major revisions since the original edition was published in february 1983, and. Know and understand the properties, uses, and safety precautions before using any gas or gas mixture. Compressed gas cylinders can present a variety of hazards due to their pressure andor content. All gas cylinders should have details of the relevant inspection body stamped or etched onto the shoulder area of each gas cylinder itself.
Sudden release of gas if cylinder is damaged torpedo effect. To prevent serious losses, its important to follow these basic safety rules when handling or storing compressed gas cylinders. Compressed gas and cryogen definitions pdf ghsdot classification comparisons relevant to compressed gases pdf cylinder engravings. The purpose of this safety policy and procedure is to establish guidelines for the protection and safety of company employees who handle and use compressed gases. Consult the air products safety data sheet sds and safetygrams for safety information on the gases and equipment you will be using. Know and understand the properties, uses, and safety precautions before. This guide is applicable to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors at the university who will be using and handling cylinders of compressed gases. Special storage, use, and handling precautions are necessary in ord er to control these hazards. Compressed gases and cylinders must be properly stored, transported and used to prevent injury and accidents. A gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 deg. Compressed gases are typically stored under pressure in metal cylinders. High pressurethe pressure contained within the gas cylinder creates a special hazard if the.
Have the group walk to a nearby compressed gas storage area and complete a practice inspection. The procedures adopted for the safe handling of compressed gases are mainly centered on containment of the material. They pose a serious hazard if the cylinder valve is dislodged. Compressed gas general introduction compressed gas cylinders can be extremely hazardous when misused or abused. Hazards associated with compressed gases include oxygen displacement, fires, explosions, and toxic gas exposures, as well as the physical hazards associated with high pressure systems. Compressed gas safety awareness training requirements is training required for this revision. Storage and handling of gas cylinders guidelines uow. Use the compressed gases self inspection check list located on the national institute for safety and healths web site. Never rely on the color of the cylinder for identification. Do not expose compressed gas containers to temperature extremes. An overview of specific health or safety concerns related to a. Are all compressed gas cylinder valve covers in place when cylinders are not in use.
Compressed gas cylinder safety program october 23, 2017 1. Depending on the particular gas, there is a potential for simultaneous exposure to both mechanical and chemical hazards. A minimum of 20 feet must be maintained between oxidizers and flammable gases and other combustible materials, such as oil or grease. Employers are responsible for safe use of compressed gas cylinders and. Never discard pressurized cylinders in the normal trash. Each compressed gas cylinder has unique hazards based on its contents. Safety data sheet ghs product identifier other means of identification product type section 1. Movement of compressed gas cylinders with regulators installed and special truck requirement. Some are filled with inert gases especially those used in arc welding. Never tamper with any safety devices on the valve or cylinder.
Regulators, cylinders and cylinder valves must be inspected regularly to ensure safe operation. Compressed gases safety training powerpoint presentations. Compressed gas cylinders shall only be handled by those familiar with the hazards and who understand how to safely handle transport and store compressed gas cylinders. Only use compressed gas cylinders in wellventilated areas to avoid gas accumulation. These cylinders are designed and constructed to withstand high pressures. Never grease or oil the regulator, valve, or fittings of an oxygen cylinder. The letters in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific osha standard highlighted on this safety and health topics page.
Compressed gas cylinders must be transported with protectivesafety caps in place avoid dragging or sliding cylinders. Safety and health topics compressed gas and equipment. Before using a compressed gas cylinder cylinder, users and handlers must be familiar with general and specific hazards associated with it. Gas cylinders can explode when exposed to high temperatures, e. Oregon plus s fact sheet fact sheet compressed gas. Compressed gases represent both physical and potential chemical hazards gas specific. How to transport cylinders most accidents or injuries involving cylinders happen when moving or handling the gas cylinders. Before using a compressed gas cylinder cylinder, users and handlers. Hazards associated with compressed gases can include oxygen displacement, fires, explosions, and toxic gas exposures, as well as the physical hazards associated with high pressure systems. Most of us know what the various compressed gas cylinders are used for on the job, but how many of us realize that the gases stored in those cylinders are under pressure of from 250 psi to. Small cylinder stands or other methods may be appropriate to ensure that the cylinders are secured from movement. Safety relief devices for compressed gas containers. Compressed gas cylinders condensed safety rules printable pdf version handling and use. Handling, storage, and use of compressed gas cylinders.
Employees who use and handle compressed gas cylinders will be trained before initial job assignment andor job reassignment. There are many different types of gases, including. Flammable gases such as acetylene, butane and hydrogen can burn or explode under certain conditions. Compressed gas safety discusses precautions for the safe handling of. The supplier seeks to assure the safety of cylinders through adherence to regulations set forth by the department of. Any department responsible for the storage, handling, and usage of compressed gas cylinders. Do not attempt to identify the compressed gas in the cylinder. This document provides basic guidance on the safe storage and handling of compressed gas cylinders. This includes but is not limited to research and academic lab spaces, shops, and maintenanceutilities areas. When storing or moving a cylinder, have the cap securely in place to protect the stem.
Compressed gas association cga publication p1, safe handling of compressed gases in cylinders. Physical hazards of compressed gas cylinders pressure weight. Handling and storing compressed gas cylinders 20141027. The compressed gas safety manual was created to ensure the safe use of compressed gases and all associated equipment by depaul university employees and students, and to ensure compliance with applicable osha and industry consensus standards. Cga and nfpa guidelines for the safe storage and handling of compressed gas cylinder. Moving a compressed gas cylinder from storage to the work area in the same building must be done by using a. Flammable or combustible explosive corrosive poisonous.
Dropping, tipping over or exposing a cylinder to heat can cause weaknesses or cracks in the cylinders shell, which can result in a shrapnelladen explosion, according to the american welding society. Industrial gas cylinders are color coded to provide identification at a glance. Safety data sheets sds must be obtained and maintained for all compressed gases. Cylinder handling check container for bulges, dents, pits. Photos of a violent explosion in a residential area originated by an acetylene gas cylinder in a plumbers van.