These materials have been developed based on applicable federal laws and regulations in place at the time the materials were created.  The program is being provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute and is not intended to provide OSHA compliance certification, regulatory compliance, a substitute for any "hands on“ training required by applicable laws and regulations, or other legal or professional advice or services. By accessing the materials, you assume all responsibility and risk arising from the use of the content contained therein. ©2010 Grainger Safety Services, Inc.

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FHM TRAINING TOOLS

This training presentation is part of FHM’s commitment to creating and keeping safe workplaces.

Be sure to check out all the training programs that are specific to your industry.

These materials have been developed based on applicable federal laws and regulations in place at the time the materials were created.  The program is being provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute and is not intended to provide OSHA compliance certification, regulatory compliance, a substitute for any "hands on“ training required by applicable laws and regulations, or other legal or professional advice or services. By accessing the materials, you assume all responsibility and risk arising from the use of the content contained therein. ©2010 Grainger Safety Services, Inc.

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Compressed Gases

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation, you will:

►Know types of gases in compressed gas cylinders

►Recognize hazards associated with these gases

►Know safe use practices of compressed gases

Agenda

Presentation agenda:

►Information on compressed gases and cylinders

►Chemical and physical hazards

►Your responsibilities

Compressed Gases and Cylinders

Information

►Section 1

Compressed Gas Cylinders

Standard portable industrial gas cylinder:

►Stores gases at high pressures

►57in tall, 9in diameter

►One-quarter inch thickness

►About 155lbs in weight when filled

►330 cubic ft of gas at 2640 lbs per square inch

Four Types of Compressed Gases

Substance types in gas cylinders:

►Gas at standard temperature, increased pressure

►Liquefies at standard temperature, increased pressure

►Dissolved in a solvent

►Liquefies at reduced temperature, increased pressure

Gas at STP

Gases at standard temperature:

►Air

►Argon

►Helium

►Nitrogen

►Oxygen

Liquefied Gases

Liquefied gases at standard temperature:

►Butane

►Propane

►Carbon dioxide

►Nitrous oxide

Dissolved Gases

Gases dissolved in a solvent at standard temperature:

►Acetylene

Cryogenic Gases

Liquefied gases at reduced temperature:

►Liquid nitrogen

►Liquid oxygen

►Carbon dioxide

Hazards of Compressed Gas Systems

Hazards of use, storage, and handling of cylinders:

►Chemical hazards:

–Associated with cylinder contents

►Physical hazards:

–Due to presence of a high pressure vessel

Chemical Hazards

►Section 2

Chemical Hazards

Chemical hazards of compressed gases:

►Flammable

►Corrosive

►Explosive

►Poisonous

►Inert

►Acidic

►Reactive

Labeling and Material Safety Data Sheets

Labeling and MSDS practices:

►Cylinders may be stenciled or stamped

►Three-part tag systems

►Cylinder color-coding is unreliable

►Periodic inspections

►All gases to be included in:

– Hazard communication chemical inventory

– Material Safety Data Sheets

Segregation

Compressed gases should be segregated from:

► High traffic areas

► Oil and grease

► Flames, sparks, heat, or ignition

► Electrical circuits

Cylinders should be protected from:

► Ground

► Direct sunlight

► Dampness

► Salt and other corrosives

Fire Protection

Cylinders containing flammable gases should be:

►Separated from cylinders containing oxidizing gas:

– 20 feet

– 5 foot fire-resistant barrier

►Stored in a well-ventilated space

►Use flow restrictors or surge protectors

Cylinder Leaks

Leak detection procedures:

►For flammable gas – soapy water solution

►Temperatures at or below freezing use 50% glycerin-water

►For toxic/corrosive gas – test with inert gas

►Establish emergency procedures

Engineering Controls

Common engineering controls:

►Emergency shutoff switch

►Gas cylinder cabinets

►Flow restrictors

►Emergency eyewash

Physical Hazards

►Section 3

Physical Hazards

Container may rupture due to:

►Forklift puncture

►Knocked over

Ruptured tanks

►May become projectiles

►Release toxic gas into the atmosphere

►Turn the environment flammable

Securing Cylinders

Gas cylinders must be secured at all times:

►In a vertical position

►Secured at 2/3 of it’s height with:

– Chain, plastic coated wire cable, or straps

►Secured individually

Transporting Cylinders

Rules for transporting:

►Never drag, slide, or roll a cylinder

►Always have valve cap on

►Never transport with regulator in place

►Ensure it’s secured to cart

►Do not drop or strike against objects

►Do not lift by valve cover

►Do not use ropes or slings

Cylinder Testing

Test information marked on cylinder:

►Hydrostatic and burst testing are most common

►Hydrostatic or ultrasonic testing is required every 5 - 10 years

1. DOT Specifications – Material or Construction Serial Number

2. Registered Owner3. Date of Manufacture and original hydrostatic

test4. Neck Ring – Current Owner5. Retest Markings6. Barcode7. Cylinder Manufacturers Marking8. TW = Tare Weight

Valve Connections

Cylinder attachments:

►Cap over valve to protect it

►Some cylinders have a protective frame

►Pressure regulator:

– Pressure gauge

– Flow adjustment

Gas Lines and Piping

Guidelines:

►All gas lines should be labeled

►Hoses should be examined

►Avoid unnecessarily long hoses

►Keep hoses free of kinks

►Keep hoses away from high traffic areas

►Repair leaks promptly

►One hose per type of gas

The Regulator

Precautions:

►Make sure correct regulator is equipped

►Inspect regulator and cylinder

►Never use grease or oil

►Valve handle should be easily accessible

►Use proper tools for valves

►Check MSDS

►Fire extinguishers

►Valve outlet facing away

Cylinder Storage

Storage area should be:

►Away from heat and ignition sources

►Designated “no smoking”

►Marked as gas storage

►Restricted access

►Provided with appropriate equipment

Cylinder Storage (continued)

Gas containers should be:

►Capped, stood upright, and properly secured

►Segregated according to categories

►Segregated according to full or empty

►Manage so oldest is used first

►Periodically checked for condition

Empty Cylinders

Proper procedure:

►Considered full until identified as empty by user

►Labeled “M T” or tagged when empty

►Empty cylinders are returned to supplier

►Leave 25 psig minimum pressure

►Do not leave empty cylinders attached to pressurized system

Your Responsibilities

►Section 4

Your Responsibilities

Your responsibilities include:

►Knowing content of cylinders used

►Regulator, valve, and hose maintenance

►Following rules for storage, transportation, and use

►Knowing what to do in an emergency

Additional Information

Compressed Gas Safety: General Safety Guidelines, Montana Department of Labor and Industry

Air Products Safety Grams

http://www.airproducts.com/index.asp

Compressed Gas Association (CGA)

www.cganet.com

Compressed Gases Self Inspection Checklist, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Safety Checklist Program for Schools