HandS UK Health and Safety Resources has been updated today with the inclusion of a new section on compressed gas safety, titled Gas/Cylinders.
Compressed gas cylinders can be extremely hazardous when misused or abused. They present a variety of safety hazards due to their pressure and/or content. Depending on the particular gas, there is a potential for simultaneous exposure to both mechanical and chemical hazards, many of which can be fatal. Due to their size, shape and weight, there are also hazards from manual handling.
The main hazards of compressed gas cylinders are:
* Impact from the blast of a gas cylinder explosion or rapid release of compressed gas.
* Impact from parts of gas cylinders or valves that fail, or any flying debris.
* Contact with the released gas or fluid.
* Fire resulting from the escape of flammable gas or fluid
* Impact from falling cylinders
* Manual handling injuries.
* Impact from the blast of a gas cylinder explosion or rapid release of compressed gas.
* Impact from parts of gas cylinders or valves that fail, or any flying debris.
* Contact with the released gas or fluid.
* Fire resulting from the escape of flammable gas or fluid
* Impact from falling cylinders
* Manual handling injuries.
Careful procedures are necessary for handling the various compressed gases, cylinders, regulators or valves used to control gas flow, and the piping used to confine gases during flow. Anyone who examines, fills or uses gas cylinders should be suitably trained and have the necessary skills to carry out their job safely. They should be aware of the risks associated with gas cylinders and their contents. In particular, employers should ensure that employees who are required to work with compressed gas cylinders receive adequate training. Employees involved in the handling of compressed gas cylinders should also receive manual handling training. It is essential, of course, that all activities involving compressed gas cylinders — including their manual movement, or vehicular transport — are suitably risk assessed.
As usual, the new page contains links to the main UK statutes that apply to the use and transport of gas cylinders; links to a number of internet sites containing valuable information on gas cylinders and gas safety; and a long list of downloads that you may collect for your personal information and use.
A live button to the new page can be found in Expanded Topics near the top of the main HandS page, and two links to the page are also available in the Downloads & Links section, as ‘Cylinders – Compressed Gas’ and further down, as ‘Gas/Cylinders/Compressed Gas Safety’.
I hope you’ll find the new page useful in your work.
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