Compressd gas

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Safety & Loss PreventionSafety & Loss Prevention

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Compressed Gas Cylinder SafetyCompressed Gas Cylinder Safety
When gas is put into a cylinder, “it isWhen gas is put into a cylinder, “it is
squeezed down” significantly. Forsqueezed down” significantly. For
example, 260 cubic ft. of Acetylene fitsexample, 260 cubic ft. of Acetylene fits
in a normal size cylinderin a normal size cylinder
While this is what makes CompressedWhile this is what makes Compressed
gas easy to transport and use, thegas easy to transport and use, the
severe pressure can lead tosevere pressure can lead to
dangerous situations.dangerous situations.
TheThe pressurepressure andand specific hazardspecific hazard ofof
the gas involved are the principalthe gas involved are the principal
hazards associated when dealing withhazards associated when dealing with
compressed gases.compressed gases.

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Damaged cylinder can cause a multitudeDamaged cylinder can cause a multitude
of serious problems, depending on howof serious problems, depending on how
they have been damaged. If thethey have been damaged. If the
cylinders’ base has been bent fromcylinders’ base has been bent from
rolling or dragging it from the floor, therolling or dragging it from the floor, the
cylinder will often be unstable when it iscylinder will often be unstable when it is
set up. This not only creates a “fallingset up. This not only creates a “falling
hazard” but can lead to leaks and evenhazard” but can lead to leaks and even
breaks in gas line.breaks in gas line.
Damaged cylinder valves can also causeDamaged cylinder valves can also cause
serious problems. If a significant ruptureserious problems. If a significant rupture
occurs, or the valve breaks offoccurs, or the valve breaks off
completely, the rapid release of gas cancompletely, the rapid release of gas can
turn a cylinder into virtual rocketturn a cylinder into virtual rocket
Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, cont’d.

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Some types of compressedSome types of compressed
gases have additional hazards.gases have additional hazards.
A good example is CryogenicA good example is Cryogenic
materials, produce extremelymaterials, produce extremely
low temperatures.low temperatures.
 These characteristics canThese characteristics can
create special hazard:create special hazard:
 Valves and washers canValves and washers can
become brittle and easy tobecome brittle and easy to
breakbreak
 The steel gas cylinder itself canThe steel gas cylinder itself can
get brittle and can rapture onget brittle and can rapture on
impactimpact
 Contact can cause severe burnContact can cause severe burn
to the skinto the skin (frostbite)(frostbite)

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Before “hooking up” a gasBefore “hooking up” a gas
cylinder, there are severalcylinder, there are several
types of equipment youtypes of equipment you
should know aboutshould know about
 Three different pieces ofThree different pieces of
equipment are used onequipment are used on
most cylinders:most cylinders:
 RegulatorsRegulators
 CGA fittingsCGA fittings
 Pressure Relief DevicePressure Relief Device
Never install a regulator without a CGA fitting
Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

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RegulatorRegulator –– control the speed at which a gascontrol the speed at which a gas
comes out of the cylinder.comes out of the cylinder.
CGA FittingsCGA Fittings – it connects directly to the– it connects directly to the
cylinder valve and allows the gas to leave thecylinder valve and allows the gas to leave the
cylinder.cylinder.
Pressure Relief Device (PRD)Pressure Relief Device (PRD) – these devices– these devices
are designed to prevent ruptures or violentare designed to prevent ruptures or violent
pressure releases that could occur if cylinderspressure releases that could occur if cylinders
are exposed to extreme heat.are exposed to extreme heat.
 There are noThere are no Pressure Relief DevicesPressure Relief Devices on cylinders ofon cylinders of
toxic or poisonous and inert gasestoxic or poisonous and inert gases the dangersthe dangers
presented by releasing the gas itself are felt to bepresented by releasing the gas itself are felt to be
greater than the possibility of the cylinder explodinggreater than the possibility of the cylinder exploding

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Flashback ArrestorFlashback Arrestor
A device installed onA device installed on
all oxy-acetylene setall oxy-acetylene set
up both at the side ofup both at the side of
the torch andthe torch and
regulator, thatregulator, that
prevents the flame toprevents the flame to
travel through thetravel through the
hose and into thehose and into the
cylindercylinder

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Know what is inside anyKnow what is inside any
cylinder you work with.cylinder you work with.
 You can’t assume that theYou can’t assume that the
color of the cylinder will tellcolor of the cylinder will tell
you what gas is inside.you what gas is inside.
 Cylinder colors are chosenCylinder colors are chosen
by the owner of theby the owner of the
cylinder.cylinder.
 Each owner may have aEach owner may have a
different “color coding”different “color coding”
system.system.
 There is no standardThere is no standard
“color coding” used on“color coding” used on
cylinders.cylinders.
Proper labeling and color coding
Proper Storing of Compressed Gas Cylinder

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One thing to remember aboutOne thing to remember about
working with Compressed Gasworking with Compressed Gas
Cylinders is that with many gasesCylinders is that with many gases
a small leak can cause majora small leak can cause major
problems.problems.
 For example, with even a tiny leakFor example, with even a tiny leak
in a cylinder full of compressedin a cylinder full of compressed
flammable gas, the intenseflammable gas, the intense
pressure will force gas out of thepressure will force gas out of the
cylinder continuously.cylinder continuously.
 As gas spreads, it can pass overAs gas spreads, it can pass over
ignition sources such as:ignition sources such as:
 Electrical equipmentElectrical equipment
 Sparks from operating machinerySparks from operating machinery
 Open flamesOpen flames
 Heating elementsHeating elements

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Compressed gas cylindersCompressed gas cylinders
can be very sensitive to acan be very sensitive to a
number of conditions. Sonumber of conditions. So
you always take care whenyou always take care when
storing cylindersstoring cylinders
So you should always takeSo you should always take
special care when storingspecial care when storing
cylinders.cylinders.
Specific storage informationSpecific storage information
can usually be found oncan usually be found on
cylinders label. You cancylinders label. You can
also consult the MSDSalso consult the MSDS
Storage information labels

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Proper Storing of
Compressed Gas Cylinder
All compressed gasAll compressed gas
cylinders includingcylinders including
empty ones shall beempty ones shall be
kept upright andkept upright and
chained at all timeschained at all times
and properly cappedand properly capped
when not in use.when not in use.

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Compressed gasCompressed gas
cylinder storage areacylinder storage area
shall be located in anshall be located in an
open / well ventilatedopen / well ventilated
area, with sunarea, with sun
protection.protection.

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Isolation barrier
Isolation barrier mustIsolation barrier must
be 5 ft. high min.,be 5 ft. high min.,
made of non-made of non-
combustible materialscombustible materials
with at least ½ hourwith at least ½ hour
fire ratingfire rating

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Why must acetylene andWhy must acetylene and
oxygen cylinders beoxygen cylinders be
stored separately?stored separately?
 Acetylene is highlyAcetylene is highly
flammable (a fuel)flammable (a fuel)
 Oxygen greatly supportsOxygen greatly supports
combustioncombustion
 If both leak, and they areIf both leak, and they are
stored together, mixing ofstored together, mixing of
two gases combined withtwo gases combined with
external heat, can resultexternal heat, can result
in fire / explosion (firein fire / explosion (fire
triangle principle)triangle principle)
20 ft.
6.0 m
Minimum
distance w/o
isolation barrier
Acetylene Oxygen
OxygenAcetylene

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Under no circumstances,Under no circumstances,
cylinders will be locatedcylinders will be located
or stored closer than 15or stored closer than 15
meters from source ofmeters from source of
heat or ignition such asheat or ignition such as
open flame operation,open flame operation,
generators, weldinggenerators, welding
machines, compressors,machines, compressors,
ovens etc.ovens etc.

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FULL EMPTY
Always store cylinders:
• in racks;
• in the upright position;
• secured with steel chains or
clamps; and
• with the cylinder valve fully closed.
Because empty cylinders still
contain a small amount of gas, the
cylinder valve must still be closed.
Store full and empty cylinders
separately according to gas type.

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Compressed gasCompressed gas
cylinders shall becylinders shall be
located where theylocated where they
cannot become partcannot become part
of an electrical circuitof an electrical circuit
Electrical cord

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Electrode must not beElectrode must not be
struck against thestruck against the
cylinder to strike ancylinder to strike an
arc.arc.
Electrical arc damage
should be taken out
immediately

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No compressed gasNo compressed gas
cylinders of any kindcylinders of any kind
including theirincluding their
accessories shall beaccessories shall be
placed, stored, or leftplaced, stored, or left
in a confined spacein a confined space
including vessels,including vessels,
tanks, pipes, deeptanks, pipes, deep
excavation etc.excavation etc.
whether full or emptywhether full or empty

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Lifting / hoisting ofLifting / hoisting of
compressed gascompressed gas
cylinders shall becylinders shall be
done only by meansdone only by means
of approved materialof approved material
basket or cradle.basket or cradle.
Hoisting by slings isHoisting by slings is
strictlystrictly NOTNOT allowed.allowed.

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Always transport Acetylene and LPG cylinders in the
upright position.
Always secure cylinders with steel clamps or chains to
prevent excessive movement.
Never transport cylinders in the cab of the vehicle.
Never allow any part of a cylinder to overhang the vehicle.
TRANSPORTING CYLINDERS IN A VEHICLE

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Your hands should be free of grit,
grease and oil when manually
handling cylinders to prevent:
• the cylinders from slipping; and
• grit or oil entering the cylinder
valve.
Cylinders must be moved and
staged in bottle carts with
appropriate size wheels for the
area.
MANUAL HANDLING OF CYLINDERS

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Cylinders are not
protected from falling.
Note that the Chain is
not secured across.
Chain
Electrical cord draped over.
Cylinders not secured

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1. Small cylinder not tied off
2. Combustibles stored with cylinders
3. Bad housekeeping
4. Acetylene and Oxygen stored too
close and not secured

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Cylinder should be in storage
protected from damage and not
laying on the ground regardless if
it is full or empty
Electrical arc
damage

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Old, corroded cylinder that should
have been disposed of a long time
ago.
1. Cylinder with no valve or cap
installed
2. Left lying on the ground

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1. Cylinders laying on the ground and
improperly stored
2. Subject to damage from forklift
operation in vicinity
Forklift
1. Feed line exposed to
damage/leak that could
cause a fire/explosion

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1. Inadequate housekeeping
2. Valve caps should be installed.
1.Unsecured acetylene cylinder
2. Exposed to damage

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Unsecured cylinders
Regulator left pressurized afterRegulator left pressurized after
useuse

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Improper Storage
Nylon rope being use to secure
the cylinder

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Improper storage of
cylinders- acetylene and
oxygen stored next to each
other
Evidence of smoking next to
acetylene cylinders

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This cylinder should be taken to
storage and housekeeping should
be improved.
Cooking equipment within 20 ft
Of the cylinder

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oxy-acetylene torch connected
To the cylinder without the torch
connected.
Remove all connection when not in
use and install cap to the cylinder

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What a pressurizedWhat a pressurized
Container can doContainer can do
When the right amountWhen the right amount
of heat is applied.of heat is applied.

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An Ironworker crew was modifying a temporary structural steel bridge using anAn Ironworker crew was modifying a temporary structural steel bridge using an
Oxygen/Acetylene torch setup on a cart, a portable welder, and a grinder.Oxygen/Acetylene torch setup on a cart, a portable welder, and a grinder.
Apparently the Acetylene hose developed a leak and ignited during the grindingApparently the Acetylene hose developed a leak and ignited during the grinding
operationoperation ((Monday June 18, 2001Monday June 18, 2001 ))

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The torch setup was not equipped with a “flashback” arrestorThe torch setup was not equipped with a “flashback” arrestor
check valve and the fire traveled through the hose into thecheck valve and the fire traveled through the hose into the
compressed cylinder.compressed cylinder.

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end

Compressd gas

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