Safety & Loss

Prevention

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

When gas is put into a cylinder, it is
squeezed down significantly. For
example, 260 cubic ft. of Acetylene fits
in a normal size cylinder
While this is what makes Compressed
gas easy to transport and use, the
severe pressure can lead to
dangerous situations.
The pressure and specific hazard of
the gas involved are the principal
hazards associated when dealing with
compressed gases.
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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Damaged cylinder can cause a multitude
of serious problems, depending on how
they have been damaged. If the
cylinders base has been bent from
rolling or dragging it from the floor, the
cylinder will often be unstable when it is
set up. This not only creates a falling
hazard but can lead to leaks and even
breaks in gas line.
Damaged cylinder valves can also cause
serious problems. If a significant rupture
occurs, or the valve breaks off
completely, the rapid release of gas can
turn a cylinder into virtual rocket

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Some types of compressed

gases have additional hazards.
A good example is Cryogenic
materials, produce extremely
low temperatures.
These characteristics can
create special hazard:
Valves and washers can
become brittle and easy to
break
The steel gas cylinder itself can
get brittle and can rapture on
impact
Contact can cause severe burn
to the skin (frostbite)

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

Before hooking up a gas

cylinder, there are several
types of equipment you
should know about
Three different pieces of
equipment are used on
most cylinders:
Regulators
CGA fittings
Pressure Relief Device
Never install a regulator without a CGA fitting

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

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

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Flashback Arrestor
A device installed on
all oxy-acetylene set
up both at the side of
the torch and
regulator, that
prevents the flame to
travel through the
hose and into the
cylinder
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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Proper Storing of Compressed Gas Cylinder
Know what is inside any
cylinder you work with.
You cant assume that the
color of the cylinder will tell
you what gas is inside.
Cylinder colors are chosen
by the owner of the
cylinder.
Each owner may have a
different color coding
Proper labeling and color coding
system.
There is no standard color
coding used on cylinders.

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

One thing to remember about

working with Compressed Gas
Cylinders is that with many gases
a small leak can cause major
problems.
For example, with even a tiny leak
in a cylinder full of compressed
flammable gas, the intense
pressure will force gas out of the
cylinder continuously.
As gas spreads, it can pass over
ignition sources such as:
Electrical equipment
Sparks from operating machinery
Open flames
Heating elements

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Compressed gas cylinders
can be very sensitive to a
number of conditions. So
you always take care when
storing cylinders
So you should always take
special care when storing
cylinders.
Specific storage information
can usually be found on
cylinders label. You can
also consult the MSDS
Storage information labels

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

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

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Compressed gas
cylinder storage area
shall be located in an
open / well ventilated
area, with sun
protection.

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Isolation barrier must
be 5 ft. high min.,
made of noncombustible materials
with at least hour
fire rating

Isolation barrier

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Why must acetylene and
oxygen cylinders be
stored separately?
Acetylene is highly
flammable (a fuel)
Oxygen greatly supports
combustion
If both leak, and they are
stored together, mixing of
two gases combined with
external heat, can result
in fire / explosion (fire
triangle principle)

Acetylene

Oxygen

20 ft.
6.0 m

Acetylene

Minimum
distance w/o
isolation barrier

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Oxygen

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Under no circumstances,
cylinders will be located
or stored closer than 15
meters from source of
heat or ignition such as
open flame operation,
generators, welding
machines, compressors,
ovens etc.
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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Always store cylinders:

in racks;
in the upright position;
secured with steel chains or
clamps; and
with the cylinder valve fully closed.

FULL

EMPTY

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 Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Compressed gas
cylinders shall be
located where they
cannot become part
of an electrical circuit
Electrical cord

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Electrode must not be
struck against the
cylinder to strike an
arc.

Electrical arc damage

should be taken out
immediately

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

No compressed gas
cylinders of any kind
including their
accessories shall be
placed, stored, or left
in a confined space
including vessels,
tanks, pipes, deep
excavation etc.
whether full or empty
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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Lifting / hoisting of
compressed gas
cylinders shall be
done only by means
of approved material
basket or cradle.
Hoisting by slings is
strictly NOT allowed.

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

TRANSPORTING CYLINDERS IN A VEHICLE
Always transport Acetylene and LPG cylinders in the
upright position.
Always secure cylinders with steel clamps or chains to
prevent excessive movement.

Never allow any part of a cylinder to overhang the vehicle.

Never transport cylinders in the cab of the vehicle.

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

MANUAL HANDLING OF CYLINDERS
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.

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Chain

Electrical cord draped over.

Cylinders not secured

Cylinders are not

protected from
falling. Note that the
Chain is not secured

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1. Small cylinder not tied of

2. Combustibles stored with
cylinders
3. Bad housekeeping
4. Acetylene and Oxygen stored too
close and not secured

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety, contd.

Electrical arc
damage

Cylinder should be in storage

protected from damage and
not
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laying on the ground

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

1. Cylinder with no valve or

cap installed
2. Left lying on the ground

Old, corroded cylinder that

should have been disposed of a
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long time ago.

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

Forklift

1. Feed line exposed to

damage/leak that could
cause a fire/explosion

1. Cylinders laying on the ground

and improperly stored
2. Subject to damage from forklift
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operation in vicinity

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

1.Unsecured acetylene
cylinder
2. Exposed to damage

1. Inadequate housekeeping
2. Valve caps should be install

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

Regulator left pressurized

after use

Unsecured cylinders

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

Nylon rope being use to

secure the cylinder

Improper Storage

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

Evidence of smoking next to

acetylene cylinders

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

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

Cooking equipment within

20 ft
Of the cylinder

This cylinder should be taken

to storage and housekeeping
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should be improved.

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

Remove all connection when

not in use and install cap to
the cylinder

oxy-acetylene torch connected

To the cylinder without the
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torch connected.

Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

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

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

An Ironworker crew was modifying a temporary structural steel bridge using

an Oxygen/Acetylene torch setup on a cart, a portable welder, and a grinder.
Apparently the Acetylene hose developed a leak and ignited during the
grinding operation (Monday June 18, 2001)

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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

The torch setup was not equipped with a flashback arrestor

check valve and the fire traveled through the hose into the
compressed cylinder.
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Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety

end

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