Protocol for handling pressurized gas cylinders

Introduction

The following protocol describes how to order, safely transport, and handle pressurised gas cylinders.

Safety info

Read posters explaining how to use the gas regulators in the gas room.

Equipment

Cylinder trolley, adjustable wrench, gloves, safety shoes, leak test detector.

Pressurized gas cylinders pose certain risks and they must be handled with care. Gas cylinders are heavy because they are made of metal and must withstand a high pressure. Their long and narrow shape means that they are unstable when standing and can easily tip over if they are not secured. Gas cylinders should therefore always be strapped or chained to a dedicated holder regardless of whether they are empty or full and always have the metal hood attached when they are transported and not in use. Always use a cylinder trolley when transporting gas cylinder.

Only inert gasses and O₂ should be stored/used in the gas room. Flammable gasses and toxic gasses should be stored in dedicated storage cabinets with a separate ventilation system.

Gas cylinder tipping handling

Gas cylinder dropping or tipping over can cause weaknesses or cracks in the cylinder’s shell, which can give rise to a gas leak or result in explosion. Try to handle cylinder with care and avoid dropping or hitting them against anything. A damaged gas cylinder is not safe to use and must be returned.

Remember to fill in and attach the declaration form when accidents happen.

Ordering gas bottles

Gas bottles are ordered through the ordering system in BasWare PM by Anna Tran (Hildegunn Almelid, Lars Evje or Eivind Støren). An order needs to be made before 12 AM to receive a delivery (earliest) the day after. Ordered gas bottles are placed in the gas room in the basement, room KH8a, with a sign “Geovitenskap” and order confirmation to know who they belong to. The key to room KH8a in the basement is available in TE15b on 5th floor or ask Pål Tore/Lars Evje.

Gas cylinders should immediately be moved to the gas room at the 5th floor (TE15b) and empty ones should be taken down to room KH8a to be returned. Remember to place a yellow sign around the bottle neck for returning cylinders from the Earth Science Department.