Environmental Health & Safety Office

Environmental Health & Safety Office

Compressed Gas Cylinder Management Policy

Summary

Compressed gases serve East Tennessee State University in many ways but gases under high pressure also present a number of hazards and can even be deadly if handled improperly. Gases contained within compressed gas cylinders can be toxic, flammable, oxidizing, corrosive, inert, or some combination thereof. In addition to the chemical hazards, there are hazards from the pressure of the gas and the physical weight of the cylinder. Thus, appropriate care in the handling and storage of compressed gas cylinders is essential.

General Safety Requirements

·  Select gases with returnable containers.

·  Select the least hazardous gas that will work.

·  Purchase only the necessary quantities.

·  Do not use a forklift to move cylinders.

·  Open valves slowly and point the valve away from yourself and others.

·  Always cap cylinder valves.

·  Never leave cylinders in direct sunlight or near a source of heat.

·  Always wear proper personnel protective equipment such as face shield and insulated gloves with cryogenic materials.

·  Wear appropriate foot protection when moving or transporting cylinders.

·  If a cylinder is damaged, in poor condition, leaking, etc. contact cylinder vendor or the EH&S Office at 439-6028.

·  When receiving gas cylinders always (a) check for leaks, (b) visually inspect the cylinder for damage, (c) ensure valve cover and shipping cap is on and (d) check for proper labeling.

·  Always have Material Safety Data Sheet available.

Cylinder Storage

·  Store cylinders according to hazard class.

·  Cylinders must be properly labeled, including the gas identity and appropriate hazards (e.g. health, flammability, reactivity).

·  Store fuel-gas cylinders at least 20 feet away from oxidizers.

·  Keep flammable gases away from ignition sources.

·  Always secure gas cylinders, including lecture bottles, upright to a wall, bench top, cylinder rack or post, unless the cylinder is specifically designed to be stored otherwise. Specially designed cylinder clamps can be purchased for securing a cylinder against a bench top.

·  Do not store lecture bottles in cabinet drawer on their side.

·  Keep oxygen cylinders a minimum of 20 feet away from flammable cylinders or combustible materials.

·  Cylinders should be individually secured: using a single restraint around a number of cylinders is often not effective.

·  Keep valve protective caps in place when the cylinder is not in use.

·  Store cylinders in well ventilated areas designated and marked only for cylinders.

·  When moving, use a cylinder cart and secure cylinders with a chain.

Things Not To Do

·  Never roll a cylinder to move it.

·  Never attempt to move or carry a cylinder by the valve.

·  Never leave an open cylinder unattended.

·  Never leave a cylinder unsecured.

·  Never force improper attachments onto the wrong cylinder.

·  Never grease or oil the regulator, valve or fittings of an oxygen cylinder.

·  Never attempt to refill a cylinder.

·  Never use a flame to locate gas leaks.

·  Never attempt to mix gases in a cylinder.

·  Never discard pressurized cylinders in the normal trash.

Leaks

By following proper safety procedures, hazardous compressed gas leaks should be prevented. A cylinder may leak when it is:

·  Improperly blocked or secured.

·  Stored for long periods of time with inactivity.

·  Exposed to extreme environments such as heat, cold and corrosive in an enclosed space.

Should a cylinder leak occur, take the following steps to ensure your safety and to reduce the potential for a major accident:

·  Identify the product leaking by reading the label but do not risk your own safety by getting too close. It is better to evacuate the area than to risk exposure to an unidentified product leak.

·  Notify the EH&S Office at 439-6028 or ETSU Public Safety at 439-4480 after hours to report a leak.

·  Evacuate personnel as necessary and don personnel protective equipment (PPE) if necessary during evacuation.

·  Cap the valve if necessary and if personal safety is not compromised.

·  Stand a leaking cylinder upright if personal safety is not compromised.

·  Move the cylinder outside or to a well ventilated area before you attempt to stop leak.

·  Contact the supplier.

·  Locate the source of the leak by applying a soapy water solution to the cylinder connections or by tightening loose connectors.

Lecture Bottles

Lecture bottles are very small compressed gas cylinders, typically 2-3 inches in diameter and 12-18 inches in height. While most gas suppliers offer lecture bottles for purchase, many will not accept the empty or partially full cylinders back for disposal. Lecture bottle disposal can be very costly, depending on the original contents.

ETSU researchers should only purchase lecture bottles that can be returned to the distributor. Most distributors, including the most commonly used sources at ETSU, do offer a returnable cylinder, although in some cases, these cylinders are slightly larger than typical lecture bottles. Also, keep in mind that distributors’ policies toward lecture bottles are subject to change. In order to avoid costly disposal fees and potential hazards involved in emptying and cutting the cylinder, it is worthwhile to purchase a returnable cylinder, even if it is a bit more than what you need.

If you have unneeded lecture bottles, first call the manufacturer or distributor and ask that they pick up the cylinder for return. If they will not accept the cylinder, the ETSU EH&S Office (439-6028)can help coordinate the disposal with one of our vendors.

Questions and Guidance

Please contact the ETSU Environmental Health & Safety Office at 439-6028 for instructions on disposal, leaks, handling and storage and any other topic concerning compressed gas cylinders.

Important Reference Links

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.101 and .252 (General Requirements)

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.102 (acetylene)

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.103 (hydrogen)

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.104 (oxygen)

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.105 (nitrous oxide)