Compressed Gas Safety

Compressed gases and cylinders must be properly stored, transported and used to prevent injury and accidents. Industrial gas cylinders are color coded to provide identification "at a glance". Regulators, cylinders and cylinder valves must be inspected regularly to ensure safe operation. Gases that may react with each other must be stored separately.

Compressed gas cylinders present numerous hazards and can contain gases that are:
• Flammable or combustible
• Explosive
• Corrosive
•Poisonous

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety Precautions

Gas cylinders must be clearly identified. Never rely on the color of the cylinder for identification.
• Never attempt to repair a cylinder or valve
• Firmly attach cylinders to a bench top, wall, or holding cage. Use chains or sturdy straps
• Shut the cylinder valve when gas is not in use
• Open cylinder valves slowly. Never fully open cylinder cylinder valves.
• Don't store acetylene cylinders on their side
• Maintain 20 feet between flammable gas cylinders and oxygen cylinders
• Never bleed a cylinder below 25 psi.
• Close all valves and replace caps before moving
• Store empty and full cylinders in separate areas
• Use safety glasses or face shield when handling or connecting gas cylinders
• Never roll or drag cylinders
• Use wheeled carts to move larger cylinders
• Move only one cylinder at a time

Understanding the hazards

While each type of compressed gas has its own hazards, most are flammable, explosive, toxic, or a combination of these types. Some common kinds of compressed gas include acetylene, ammonia, carbon dioxide, chlorine, fluorine, hydrogen and oxygen. Remind your employees to read the label on the cylinder and the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for safety information.

Safe steps

Here are recommended safe practices when handling most compressed gas cylinders:

How to store them:

• Cylinders should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated area at least 20 feet from combustible materials. Don't keep the cylinders in lockers or cupboards.
• Oxygen cylinders must be separated by 20 feet from fuel-gas cylinders, such as acetylene. or by a non-combustible barrier at least 5 feet high with a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour.
• They should be stored upright and secured with a chain or cable.
• Valves and caps should be completely closed.
• Room temperature should remain constant.

How to transport them:

• Secure the cylinders upright.
• Don't drag them—use a hand truck.
• Handle carefully—avoid dropping or banging them.

How to use them:

• Open valves by hand, rather than with a tool (unless a specific tool is recommended by the supplier).
• Release the valves slowly.
• If a special wrench is required to open the valve, leave it in position while in use so that the flow of gas can be stopped quickly in an emergency.
• Don't tamper with safety devices.
• Keep cylinders upright and away from heat, sparks, fire, or electrical circuits.
• Avoid getting any oil or grease on the cylinders, particularly those containing oxygen.

How to maintain them:

• All cylinders should be properly marked to identify the contents.
• Make sure valve protection caps are in place.
• If cylinders are leaking, take them outdoors away from sparks or heat and slowly empty them.
• Make sure to mark all empty cylinders (some companies use "MT").
• Put a warning tag on cylinders that were leaking and notify the supplier.

Other precautions:

• Never mix gases in a cylinder or try to refill a cylinder (contact the supplier).
• If a cylinder leaks or a valve is broken, tag the cylinder and contact a trained maintenance person or the supplier.
• NEVER smoke around a compressed gas cylinder.
• Don't use the recessed top of the cylinder as a storage area for tools or material.

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety Training Tips

When conducting your training session, have a compressed gas cylinder available and demonstrate proper handling and operating procedures. Show what a damaged or leaking cylinder looks like and explain how to report these conditions. Review relevant MSDS's and discuss health hazards and safety precautions. Ask about any problems with transporting or storing cylinders at your facility.

In particular, warn your employees not to become complacent around compressed gas cylinders. If your workers are at all skeptical about the need to use caution, remind them of the story of the runaway cylinder that wreaked havoc.

All materials in the members area for this topic index

Program Material

Programs (written)
(6)
 Compressed Air Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Air Storage Tank Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Air Storage Tanks Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Gas Safety Policy   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Gas Safety Program   Download  MS-WORD
Fact Sheets
(3)
 All About Acetylene Safety Topic Fact Sheet   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Gases Safety Topic Fact Sheet   Download  MS-WORD
 Safetyrules Compressed Gas Rules   Download  MS-WORD

Forms & Documents

Checklists
(1)
 Compressed Gas Supervisor Safety Checklist   Download  MS-WORD
Inspections
(1)
 Compressors Compressed Air And Gases Inspection General Form   Download  MS-WORD

Training Material

Handouts
(3)
 Compressed Gas Cylinders   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Gas Training Handout Spanish   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Gas Training Handout   Download  MS-WORD
Outlines
(1)
 Compressed Gas Training Outline   Download  MS-WORD
Pamphlets
(2)
 Compressed Gas Safety Pamphlet Spanish   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Gas Safety Pamphlet   Download  MS-WORD
PowerPoints
(2)
 Compressed Gas Safety PowerPoint Spanish   Download  MS-PPT
 Compressed Gas Safety PowerPoint   Download  MS-PPT
Quizzes
(2)
 Compressed Gas Safety Quiz Answer Key   Download  MS-WORD
 Compressed Gas Safety Quiz   Download  MS-WORD
Supervisor
(1)
 2brief Comp Gas   Download  MS-WORD
Talks
(2)
 Chemical Propane Talk Spanish   Download  MS-WORD
 Chemical Propane Talk   Download  MS-WORD

Awareness

Posters
(1)
 Poster Comp Gas Ton   Download  MS-WORD
Safety Comic Strip
(1)
 Comic Archive Compressed Gas Safety Comic Strip   Download  MS-WORD

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