COMPRESSED GAS SAFETY MANUAL August 2017 Table of Contents SECTION A: GENERAL ............................................................................................................................... 4 1. Purpose and Scope........................................................................................................................... 4 2. Compressed Gas Safety .................................................................................................................... 4 3. Responsibilities ................................................................................................................................ 5 3.1. PI/Laboratory Supervisor Responsibility ................................................................................ 5 3.2. Students, Staff and Visitors ................................................................................................... 5 3.3. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) ................................................................................ 5 4. Types of Compressed Gas ................................................................................................................ 6 5. Hazards Associated with Compressed Gases .................................................................................... 6 5.1. Pressure ............................................................................................................................... 6 5.2. Fire and Explosion ................................................................................................................ 7 5.3. Health Hazards ..................................................................................................................... 7 5.4. Chemical Burns ..................................................................................................................... 7 5.5. Asphyxiation......................................................................................................................... 8 5.6. Physical Hazards ................................................................................................................... 9 5.7. Cylinder Damage ................................................................................................................ 10 5.8. Classes of Compressed Gases .............................................................................................. 11 6. Hazards of Commonly Used Gases ................................................................................................. 12 6.1. Nitrogen (N2), Argon (Ar) and Helium (He) .......................................................................... 12 6.2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) .......................................................................................................... 12 6.3. Carbon Monoxide (CO) ....................................................................................................... 13 6.4. Hydrogen (H2) ..................................................................................................................... 14 6.5. Oxygen (O2) and Other Oxidizing Gases .............................................................................. 14 6.6. Acetylene ........................................................................................................................... 15 6.7. Refrigerant Gases ............................................................................................................... 16 6.8. Gas Duster Aerosols............................................................................................................ 18 6.9. Cryogenic Gases ................................................................................................................. 19 6.9.1. Use of Cryogens.............................................................................................................. 19 6.9.2. Cryogen Hazards............................................................................................................. 20 6.9.2.1. Cold Burns, Frostbite and Hypothermia................................................................... 20 6.9.2.2. Asphyxiation – Liquid Nitrogen, Argon and Helium .................................................. 20 EHS-DOC-126 v.2 Page 1 of 63 6.9.2.3. Fire Hazards from Oxygen-Enriched Conditions ....................................................... 21 6.9.2.4. Liquid Oxygen Condensation ................................................................................... 21 6.9.2.5. Over Pressurization ................................................................................................. 21 6.9.3. Cryogens and Magnetic Fields ........................................................................................ 21 6.10. Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) ........................................................................................ 22 6.10.1. Definition and Associated Hazards .................................................................................. 22 6.10.2. LPG Laboratory Use ........................................................................................................ 23 SECTION B: Safe Handling ...................................................................................................................... 23 7. Receiving Gas Cylinders .................................................................................................................. 23 8. Handling Requirements .................................................................................................................. 26 9. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ............................................................................................. 26 10. Indoor Transportation .................................................................................................................... 26 11. Proper Storage ............................................................................................................................... 27 11.1. Cylinders in Use .................................................................................................................. 27 11.2. General Storage Guidelines ................................................................................................ 28 11.3. Storage in Laboratories ...................................................................................................... 29 11.4. Indoor Storage ................................................................................................................... 30 11.5. Outdoor Storage ................................................................................................................. 31 11.6. Additional Storage Requirements for Specific Classes of Gases ............................................ 31 11.6.1. Toxic Gases ..................................................................................................................... 31 11.6.2. Flammable Gases ........................................................................................................... 33 11.6.3. Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPGs) .................................................................................. 34 11.6.3.1. Outdoor Storage ..................................................................................................... 34 11.6.3.2. Indoor Storage ........................................................................................................ 34 11.6.4. Oxidizing Gases............................................................................................................... 35 11.6.5. Pyrophoric Gases ............................................................................................................ 35 11.6.6. Corrosive Gases .............................................................................................................. 35 11.6.7. Aerosols ......................................................................................................................... 36 11.6.8. Segregation of Incompatible Gases ................................................................................. 37 12. Compressed Gas Cylinder Set-Up ................................................................................................... 37 12.1. Regulators .......................................................................................................................... 37 EHS-DOC-126 v.2 Page 2 of 63 12.1.1. Medical Gas Cylinders..................................................................................................... 40 12.2. Pressure Relief Devices ....................................................................................................... 40 12.3. Compressed Gas Cylinders Set-Up Guidelines ...................................................................... 41 12.4. Valve and Regulator Requirements ..................................................................................... 41 12.5. Testing for Leaks and Faults ............................................................................................... 42 13. Road Transportation ...................................................................................................................... 43 13.1. Regulations ........................................................................................................................ 43 13.2. Gas Cylinders .....................................................................................................................