Gas Cylinder Storage and Handling

Serious accidents can result from the misuse, abuse, or mishandling of compressed gas cylinders. Safe procedures for their use are as follows:

• All compressed gas cylinders in service shall be securely held upright in cylinder racks or secured to other rigid structures so they will not be knocked over. Secure cylinders using a chain at the top and bottom of the cylinder due to the possibility of earthquakes. Straps have been known to fail in an earthquake.
• Cylinders should be individually secured with chains. It is not a good practice to secure a number of cylinders together with a single chain.
• Keep cylinders out of direct sun, away from radiators, and other sources of heat.
• Store cylinders in assigned places away from elevators, stairs, or gangways. Storage shall be located where cylinders will not be knocked over, damaged by passing or falling objects, or subject to tampering by unauthorized persons.
• Do not store cylinders in unventilated enclosures such as lockers or cupboards.
• Cylinders shall be legibly marked for the purpose of identifying the gas content with either the chemical or the trade name of the gas. The label must be on the shoulder of the cylinder. A “full/empty” tag is recommended for each cylinder.
• When cylinders are no longer in use, shut the valves, relieve the pressure in the gas regulators, remove the regulators, and cap the cylinders.
• Segregate empty cylinders from full cylinders, return empty cylinders and unneeded lecture bottles to the supplier rather than leaving them in storage.
• Keep cylinders away from welding or cutting operations so sparks or flame will not reach them.
• Segregate gas cylinder storage from the storage of other chemicals.
• Keep incompatible classes of gases stored separately. Keep flammables away from reactives.
• Oxygen cylinders in storage shall be separated from fuel gas cylinders or combustible materials a minimum of 20 feet. A noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet high having a fire resistance rating of at least one half hour can be used instead of separation.
• When transporting cylinders of compressed gases, the cylinder should always be strapped to a cylinder cart and the valve protected with a cover cap.
• Cylinders may be moved by tilting and rolling them on their bottom edges only if the caps are securely in place.
• Cylinders shall not be dropped or permitted to strike each other.
• Do not lift the cylinder by the valve protection cap.
• No person, other than the gas supplier, shall attempt to mix gases in a cylinder.