To avoid harm and mishaps, compressed gases and cylinders must be kept, transported, and used properly. Color coding is used on industrial gas cylinders to help with identification "at a glance". Regular inspections of regulators, cylinders, and cylinder valves are necessary to ensure their safe operation. Separate storage is required for gases that could interact. Members of your industry must receive sufficient training in the usage, handling, storage, and disposal of compressed gas cylinders before working with them.
Keep in mind that, although the actual container might appear to be safe, using compressed gas cylinders improperly might result in mechanical, physical, inhalation, and/or other health risks. If not correctly controlled, they can cause your environment to lose oxygen, are dangerous to breathe, can cause serious skin burns or rashes, and can break your bones. For the safety purpose and minimize the risk we need training like Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety training that mainly covers the aspects of safe use, handling, transportation, storage, and disposal of gas cylinders. Taking care of all such safety aspects is necessary to ensure the safety of employees and the workplace where compressed gas cylinders are used and/ or stored.
Top 5 Tips to Minimize Accidents Due to Compressed Gas Cylinder
Compressed gas is mostly used in many companies, manufacturing, and construction industries. Employees and workers are unaware of proper safety measures. That’s why it is needed to be aware of the guidelines for compressed gas cylinders. By following these tips, you can help to reduce Accidents.
- The Manufacturer's Instructions Should Always be Read and followed at Workplace: A compressed gas cylinder's safe handling, use, and storage will all be covered in detail in the manufacturer's instructions. To protect the safety of you and your employees, it's crucial to read and comply with these directions. The instructions may, for instance, detail the cylinder's maximum operating pressure and temperature as well as the right manner to use and store the cylinder. The safe applications and storage of the cylinder can be ensured by adhering to these proposals.
- Move the cylinder securely at the Workplace: To stop the cylinder from toppling over, always move it with the cylinder secured in an upright position. By doing this, you can prevent the cylinder from toppling over during shipment, which could harm it or let the gas out. To keep the cylinder firmly in position, it's also vital to use restraints like straps or chains.
- Check the Cylinders Before Using or Transferring: The workers who use the first line of defence against issues. The likelihood of an accident occurring is decreased by paying strict attention to the state of the cylinders and valves. To begin with, look for any evident damage to the cylinder. Use caution while using cylinders that lack a clear indication of their contents. Some employees merely check to make sure the cylinder is the right color, but it is not a safe practice because manufacturers use different colours.
- Open Gas Cylinder Properly: Opening the valve takes some time. If we open it very fast it causes the damage to regulator or valve. Before opening the valve, eliminate the regulator's spring tension by loosening the pressure adjustment screw, and make sure the exit is pointed away from you. Use the appropriate tools, of course. Using pliers may result in valve damage and a hazardous situation. If any case the valve seems damaged don’t open them. Avoid opening the valve more than three-quarters of a turn when utilizing cylinders that contain volatile gases, such as acetylene, to reduce the possibility of an explosion and to make sure you can rapidly close the valve if necessary.
- Properly Store Cylinders at Workplace: The sort of cylinder, what's inside, and the site's characteristics all play a role in how to store cylinders safely. Avoid placing cylinders in direct sunlight, close to fire or spark sources, or in locations where temperatures could rise above 125°F. Acetylene cylinders must be kept properly since they are different from other types of cylinders and can be safely placed on their sides. Using copper fittings or tubing with acetylene tanks is also not advised.
In conclusion, it is the crucial to handle and store compressed gas cylinders carefully. The manufacturer's instructions should always be read and followed, Move the cylinder securely at Workplace, Check the Cylinders Before using or Transferring, Open Gas Cylinder properly, properly store cylinders.
