Compressed gases represent both physical and potential chemical hazards gas specific. Are all compressed gas cylinder valve covers in place when cylinders are not in use. Compressed gas cylinder safe handling, use and storage. Many of the odourless and colourless gases are highly toxic. Safe handling of compressed gases in the laboratory and plant. 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. This guide is applicable to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors at the university who will be using and handling cylinders of compressed gases. Moving a compressed gas cylinder from storage to the work area in the same building must be done by using a. Small cylinder stands or other methods may be appropriate to ensure that the cylinders are secured from movement. Cylinder manufacturers include engraved markings on cylinders to allow proper identification of substances in the container. They pose a serious hazard if the cylinder valve is dislodged. Oregon plus s fact sheet fact sheet compressed gas. Compressed gas cylinder safety manual, including successfully completing all training requirements set forth therein.
Do not move cylinders if you cannot do so with ease. Compressed gas and cryogen definitions pdf ghsdot classification comparisons relevant to compressed gases pdf cylinder engravings. Only use compressed gas cylinders in wellventilated areas to avoid gas accumulation. Compressed gas association cga publication p1, safe handling of compressed gases in cylinders. This program covers requirements which must be followed for the use of all compressed gases. When storing or moving a cylinder, have the cap securely in place to protect the stem. Are all compressed gas cylinders stored so they do not interfere with exit paths.
Whenever practical, the marking shall be located on the shoulder of the cylinder osha standard 29 cfr 1910. Safety relief devices for compressed gas containers. Never store two different types of gases closely together. A durable label should be provided that cannot be removed from the compressed gas cylinder. Safety data sheet ghs product identifier other means of identification product type section 1. Use, handle, and store compressed gas cylinders in accordance with the instructions and training received. Describes some safe work practices for working with compressed gas cylinders. Suppliers must deliver properly labelled compressed gas cylinders with safety caps in place and delivery should be accompanied with a written certificate from the supplier. Review the labels on these cylinders with your crew. The phone number and web site of the cga are located at the end of this sheet in the information sources section. 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. Handling, storage, and use of compressed gas cylinders air products. Sample compressed gas cylinder inspection checklist.
Present this safety talk near fuel gas cylinders on site if possible. High pressurethe pressure contained within the gas cylinder creates a special hazard if the. Gas cylinders can explode when exposed to high temperatures, e. Safe handling of compressed gases in the laboratory. How to transport cylinders most accidents or injuries involving cylinders happen when moving or handling the gas cylinders. Never tamper with any safety devices on the valve or cylinder. Flammable gases such as acetylene, butane and hydrogen can burn or explode under certain conditions. Compressed gases and cylinders must be properly stored, transported and used to prevent injury and accidents. These gases, however, can be dangerous if not handled in an appropriate manner. Any department responsible for the storage, handling, and usage of compressed gas cylinders. Before using a compressed gas cylinder cylinder, users and handlers must be familiar with general and specific hazards associated with it. This document provides basic guidance on the safe storage and handling of compressed gas cylinders. In addition, there are hazards from the pressure of the gas and the physical weight of the. Gas properties always refer to safety data sheets hydrogen 0.
In addition, there are hazards from the pressure of the gas and the physical weight of the cylinder. A minimum of 20 feet must be maintained between oxidizers and flammable gases and other combustible materials, such as oil or grease. Gas cylinders are typically found in two sizes, e cylinders capacity. 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. Use the right equipment, correct procedures, and sufficient number of persons to lift and move cylinders to avoid personal injury and cylinder damage. 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. Handling and storing compressed gas cylinders 20141027.
Compressed gas safety discusses precautions for the safe handling of. 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. 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. 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. Flammable or combustible explosive corrosive poisonous. Talk to your gas supplier about handson training and other useful safety information. Firmly secure the cylinder and move with a suitable. Oct 27, 2014 mishandling compressed gas cylinders which can have internal pressure of up to 2,500 pounds per square inch can be disastrous. Compressed gas cylinder training is available online. Comply with the procedures outline within the florida techs compressed gas cylinder safety program. 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. The supplier seeks to assure the safety of cylinders through adherence to regulations set forth by the department of.
Oregon plus s fact sheet fact sheet compressed gas safety. 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. This gas cylinder safety guide will walk you through the most important regulations and guidelines for storing and handling gas cylinders. Know and understand the properties, uses, and safety precautions before. 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. Do not attempt to identify the compressed gas in the cylinder. Compressed gas cylinders safe handling and storage hubspot. Even though the gas may be nontoxic, it could create a lethal oxygendeficient atmosphere by displacement of air. Some are filled with inert gases especially those used in arc welding.
Compressed gas cylinders can present a variety of hazards due to their pressure and or contents. Storage and handling of gas cylinders guidelines uow. Keep cylinders upright and away from heat, sparks, fire, physical damage, or. Mishandling compressed gas cylinders which can have internal pressure of up to 2,500 pounds per square inch can be disastrous.
The exact nature of these hazards depends on the type of gas, quantity, and procedureapparatus in which it is used. Transportation valve protection caps must be in place when compressed gas cylinders are transported. 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. Compressed gas and equipment occupational safety and health.
Know and understand the properties, uses, and safety precautions before using any gas or gas mixture. Compressed gas cylinder safe handling, use and storage september, 2017 safety resources page 4 of 29 fire and explosion hazards. Cylinder handling check container for bulges, dents, pits. A firewall partition 5 feet high with a halfhour rating can be substituted. Employers are responsible for safe use of compressed gas cylinders and. Do not expose compressed gas containers to temperature extremes. Compressedgas cylinder safety department of energy. The procedures adopted for the safe handling of compressed gases are mainly centered on containment of the material. An overview of specific health or safety concerns related to a. Connie muncy, a certified industrial hygienist, is the safety officer for montgomery county sanitary engineering wa. Compressed gas general introduction compressed gas cylinders can be extremely hazardous when misused or abused. Regulators, cylinders and cylinder valves must be inspected regularly to ensure safe operation. The majority of incidents and injuries involving gas cylinders occur during handling or transportation.
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. 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. Compressed gas cylinders condensed safety rules printable pdf version handling and use. Injury caused by fall of gas cylinders during handling. 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. Cylinders of compressed gases must be handled as high energy sources. Compressed gases safety training powerpoint presentations.
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. Safety data sheets sds must be obtained and maintained for all compressed gases. 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. The osha hazard communication standard defines a compressed gas as. Are safety relief devices in the valve or on the cylinder free from any indication of tampering. Sheets and your departments job safety analyses jsas. Gas cylinder safety guidelines iowa state university. Use the compressed gases self inspection check list located on the national institute for safety and healths web site. Never force improper attachments on to the wrong cylinder. To prevent serious losses, its important to follow these basic safety rules when handling or storing compressed gas cylinders. Compressed gas safety program ohio state university. Compressed gas cylinders must be transported with protectivesafety caps in place avoid dragging or sliding cylinders. Always store compressed gas cylinders in a secure upright position.
Compressed gas cylinders range from small lecture bottles to large cylinders with more than 200 cubic feet of gas. Wear protective footwear, safety glasses, and heavy gloves. She standard d4 compressed gas cylinders page 2 of 6 this is an uncontrolled copy when printed. 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.
Cdc niosh publications and products safety checklist. Safety and health topics compressed gas and equipment. Certain specific properties of compressed gases make them highly useful in various research activities. All cylinders must be stored vertical, top up across the upper half the cylinder but below the shoulder. Cylinders must be kept away from actual hot work area to protect from sparks, slag, etc.
Their contents can present chemical hazards flammable, toxic, corrosive and the cylinders could present a physical hazard. 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 cylinders, portable tanks, and cargo tanks shall have pressure relief devices installed and maintained in accordance with compressed gas association pamphlets cga s1. Compressed gases may present both physical and health hazards. Most compressed gas cylinders are very heavy, and remain so whether they are empty or full, as their. Label all cylinders with contents and stage of use e. Photos of a violent explosion in a residential area originated by an acetylene gas cylinder in a plumbers van. Gases under pressure compressed gas classification of the substance or mixture. Employees who use and handle compressed gas cylinders will be trained before initial job assignment andor job reassignment. 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. Never grease or oil the regulator, valve, or fittings of an oxygen cylinder. Do all compressed gas cylinders have safety pressure relief valves. Physical hazards of compressed gas cylinders pressure weight. Industrial gas cylinders are color coded to provide identification at a glance.
Gas cylinder safety environmental health and safety. Consult the air products safety data sheet sds and safetygrams for safety information on the gases and equipment you will be using. Secure compressed gas cylinders in an upright position on an. A gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70 deg. Dropping, tipping over or exposing a cylinder to heat can cause weaknesses or cracks in the cylinder s shell, which can result in a shrapnelladen explosion, according to the american welding society. Each compressed gas cylinder has unique hazards based on its contents.
Please refer to the sop for acutely toxic gases if applicable. Movement of compressed gas cylinders with regulators installed and special truck requirement. Employers are responsible for safe use of compressed gas cylinders and liquid containers and their contents. A compressed gas is defined by the occupational health and safety administration osha per 29 cfr 1910. Compressed cylinder safety this presentation contains photos of poor practices in the storage and handling of compressed gas cylinders. Handling, storage, and use of compressed gas cylinders. Maintain current inventory of gas cylinders and contents. Boxes, cartons, and other items used to support small cylinders must not allow water. Compressed gas cylinder safety program october 23, 2017 1. A flame should never come in contact with any part of a compressed gas cylinder. Compressed gas safety awareness training requirements is training required for this revision. Compressed gas cylinders are a common fixture in research laboratories. Before using a compressed gas cylinder cylinder, users and handlers. These cylinders are designed and constructed to withstand high pressures.
Never rely on the color of the cylinder for identification. 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. Have the group walk to a nearby compressed gas storage area and complete a practice inspection. Compressed gases are typically stored under pressure in metal cylinders. Cga and nfpa guidelines for the safe storage and handling of compressed gas cylinder.
Secure all cylinders by a chain, strap, or on a cart regardless of tank size reportreplace all cylinders in questionable condition. Special storage, use, and handling precautions are necessary in ord er to control these hazards. There are many different types of gases, including. If the valve breaks, the sudden release of compressed gas can turn it into a. This includes but is not limited to research and academic lab spaces, shops, and maintenanceutilities areas. Compressed gas cylinder safety program protect iu indiana. Never discard pressurized cylinders in the normal trash. As such it is imperative to understand safe handling, transportation and use of compressed gas cylinders. 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. Depending on the particular gas, there is a potential for simultaneous exposure to both mechanical and chemical hazards.