Method Statement For Compressed Gas Cylinder

1. Overview

There are numerous jobs in construction where oxygen and acetylene cylinders are on hand for cutting and welding. The problem is that much of the time these cylinders are improperly stored and handled. If you use these cylinders often it’s easy to be careless with them. They can be dangerous for several different reasons.

Lots of the accidents involving cylinders aren’t too serious; a worker might catch a hose with his foot and the unsecured cylinder falls over on his ankle, or a compressed gas cylinder slips out of a choker and hits someone on any part of the body. However, every once in a while, a bad accident happens. A valve is knocked off an oxygen cylinder and it takes off like a torpedo, or a misused cylinder explodes and somebody is killed.

2. Scope

Here’s what we can do (or not do) to help prevent these accidents:

DO keep cylinders upright and secured at all times.
DO utilize a cradle and or cage while hoisting compressed gas cylinder with a crane.
DO be sure the valve protection caps are on before moving compressed gas cylinder and while the cylinders are in storage.
DO store oxygen cylinders apart from any fuel/fuel gas cylinders, such as acetylene, by at least 20 feet.
DO close the valve on empty compressed gas cylinder, put on the cap, and mark them “MT, etc.”
DON’T store propane cylinders inside any building.
DON’T use cylinders for rollers or supports.
DON’T tamper with the valves or safety devices.
Cylinders are dangerous because of the gas they have inside, and because they hold that gas under extreme pressure (the pressure part is how they can turn into a torpedo!). If they are for welding, they probably have one of two different kinds—either acetylene or oxygen gas.
Acetylene is dangerous because it is very flammable and if enough gas were to build up because of a leak, there could be an explosion if a flame was around. The same holds if the cylinder had propane or some other flammable gas used for heating purposes.
About the oxygen cylinders, their danger lies in fueling the fire in several different ways. If pure oxygen meets oil or grease, a fire will start without a flame due to a chemical reaction.
So, follow the safety rules outlined above, and stay safe and alive!

Questions

Are there instances on this job site when compressed gas in cylinders will be used?
Why is proper storage for cylinders essential?
Why not use cylinders for rollers or supports?
What method is best to hoist a cylinder?