Five Steps to Compressed Gas Safety

Even a small propane tank can cause a major disaster if improperly stored, secured, maintained or used. It's not common, but it has happened. The safety experts at Safety Management Group in Indianapolis have prepared a post that identifies three hazards associated with all gas cylinders, and outlines five basic safety practices to help protect workers and others from these hazards. Here's a short version of the full list:

1. Store cylinders properly. OSHA rules provide different guidance for storage on construction sites and industrial settings.
2. Keep cylinders secured. Use straps, guards or chains and never remove the cap from a cylinder until it has been secured.
3. Inspect cylinders before moving or using them.
4. Open them carefully. Opening a valve too quickly can cause high-pressure gas to damage the regulator and valve seats.
5. Follow procedures for empty cylinders. Always leave some residual pressure in the cylinder, rather than emptying it all the way. 

Resources:

• Read the full compressed gas safety article.
• Visit the OSHA compressed gas page.
• Read a NIOSH compressed gas safety checklist.
• Browse cylinder safety signs and labels.