1.1 Handling Compressed Gas Cylinders

Follow these procedures when handling gas cylinders:

Valve protection caps must be in place and secured.

Cylinders will be moved by tilting and rolling them on their bottom edges. They must not be intentionally dropped, struck, or permitted to strike each other violently.

Cylinders must be either firmly secured on a special carrier intended for this purpose or regulators must be removed and valve protection caps put in place before cylinders are moved.

A suitable cylinder truck, chain, or other steadying device must be used to keep cylinders from being knocked over while in use or in storage.

Oxygen cylinders must be stored separated from fuel gas cylinders or combustible materials by a minimum distance of 20 feet or by a five-foot high non-combustible barrier with a fire resistive rating of one-half hour. Cylinders must not be stored near elevators, stairs or gangways. Assigned storage must prevent cylinders from being knocked over or damaged.

1.2 Placing Cylinders

Cylinders must be kept far enough away from the actual welding or cutting operation so that sparks, hot slag, or flame will not reach them. When this is impractical, fire resistant shields must be used.

Cylinders must be placed where they cannot become part of an electrical circuit. Electrodes must not be struck against a cylinder to strike an arc.

Fuel gas cylinders must be placed with valve end up whenever they are in use. They must not be placed in a location where they would be subject to open flame, hot metal, or other sources of artificial heat.

1.3 Use of Fuel Gas

Employees should understand and follow these safety procedures developed by the State of Washington and specified in WAC 296-307-48021:

Before a regulator to a cylinder valve is connected, the valve must be opened slightly and closed immediately. (This action is generally termed “cracking” and is intended to clear the valve of dust or dirt that might otherwise enter the regulator.) The person cracking the valve must stand to one side of the outlet not in front of it. The valve of a fuel gas cylinder must not be cracked where the gas would reach welding work, sparks, flame, or other possible sources of ignition

The cylinder valve must always be opened slowly to prevent damage to the regulator. For quick closing, valves on fuel gas cylinders must not be opened more than 1 ½ turns.

When a special wrench is required, it must be left in position on the stem of the valve while the cylinder is in use so that the fuel gas flow can be shut off quickly in case of an emergency. Nothing must be placed on top of a fuel gas cylinder, when in use, which may damage the safety device or interfere with the quick closing of the valve.

Fuel gas must not be used without reducing the pressure through a regulator attached to the cylinder valve.

Before a regulator is removed from a cylinder valve, the cylinder valve must always be closed and the gas released from the regulator.

If, when the valve on a fuel gas cylinder is opened, there is found to be a leak around the valve stem, the valve must be closed and the gland nut tightened. If this action does not stop the leak, the use of the cylinder must be discontinued, and it must be properly tagged and removed from the work area.

In the event that fuel gas is leaking from the cylinder valve, rather than from the valve stem, and the gas cannot be shut off, the cylinder must be properly tagged and removed from the work area. If a regulator attached to a cylinder valve will effectively stop a leak through the valve seat, the cylinder need not be removed from the work area.

If a leak develops at a fuse plug or other safety device, the cylinder must be removed from the hot work area.

Cylinders not having fixed hand wheels must have keys, handles, or non-adjustable wrenches on valve stems while in service.

Torches must be inspected before use for leaking shutoff valves, hose couplings, and tip connections. Defective torches may not be used.

Torches must be lit by friction lighters or other approved devices, and not by matches or from hot work.

1.4 Regulators and Gauges

Oxygen and fuel gas pressure regulators, including their related gauges, must be in proper working order while in use.

1.5 Oil and Grease Hazards

Oxygen cylinders and fittings must be kept away from oil or grease. Cylinders, cylinder caps and valves, couplings, regulators, hose, and apparatus must be kept free from oil or greasy substances and must not be handled with oily hands or gloves. Oxygen must never be directed at oily surfaces, greasy clothes, or within a fuel oil or other storage tank or vessel.

1.6 Hoses

Fuel gas hose and oxygen hose must be easily distinguishable from each other. The contrast may be made by different colors or by surface characteristics readily distinguishable by the sense of touch. Oxygen and fuel gas hoses must not be interchangeable. A single hose having more than one gas passage must not be used.

When parallel sections of oxygen and fuel gas hose are taped together, not more than 4 inches out of 12 inches may be covered by tape.

All hoses carrying acetylene, oxygen, natural or manufactured fuel gas, or any gas or substance that may ignite or enter into combustion, or be in any way harmful to employees, must be inspected at the beginning of each working shift. Defective hoses must be removed from service.

Hoses which have been subject to flashback, or which show evidence of severe wear or damage, must be tested to twice the normal pressure to which it is subject, but in no case less than 300 p.s.i. Defective hose, or hose in doubtful condition, must not be used.

Hose couplings must be of the type that cannot be unlocked or disconnected by means of a straight pull without rotary motion.

Boxes used for the storage of gas hoses must be ventilated.

Hoses, cables, and other equipment must be kept clear of passageways, ladders and stairs.

1.7 Torches

The operator must clean clogged torch tip openings with suitable cleaning wires, drills, or other devices designed for such purpose.

Torches must be inspected by the operator at the beginning of each working shift for leaking shutoff valves, hose couplings, and tip connections. Do not use defective torches.

Light torches with friction lighters or other approved devices, and not by matches or from hot work.