Oxygen cylinders are the prominent sources of compressed oxygen supply in an array of industries. As oxygen cylinders contain a highly reactive gas, they have to be handled with care to mitigate any potential causes of catching fire within the workplace. There are a variety of safety measures that can be implemented to save workers’ lives and minimise overall damage.Â
In this comprehensive blog post, we will explore various safety tips for safely storing oxygen cylinders in the workplace.Â
A] Why is Safe Handling of Oxygen Cylinders Required?
Oxygen cylinders contain compressed oxygen gas, which is known to be highly reactive. If oxygen comes into contact with flammable objects, it can act as an oxidising agent. The high reactiveness of oxygen facilitates a rapid combustion process, which may cause extensive damage to the surroundings. In addition, various studies show that poor and unsafe handling of oxygen cylinders has been the major culprit behind catching fire within the workplace. Therefore, it is essential to handle and store cylinders by following various workplace oxygen cylinder guidelines and protocols. By doing so, industries can ensure the safety of their workers and minimise overall damage that could happen due to fire outbreaks.
B] What Affects the In-built Security Mechanism of Oxygen Cylinder
1. Ingress of Incompatible Materials
Oxygen cylinders are designed and manufactured to store compressed oxygen. If any gas or material other than oxygen is filled forcefully, it significantly smashes the cylinder’s in-built security mechanism. Also, Oxygen cylinders are incompatible with flammable objects. The high reactant nature of oxygen can ignite flammable objects in the presence of heat and may cause loss of lives and property. Industries should avoid these practices to ensure the optimal safety of their oxygen cylinders as well as their work vicinity.Â
2. Poor HandlingÂ
Oxygen cylinders are made from robust material and can handle an array of physical turbulence. However, dropping from extreme heights, exposure to heat, and contact with combustible materials are poor handling practices. The recurrence of poor handling practices reduces the robustness of the oxygen cylinder and thus may lead to unforeseen accidents. Industries should refrain from these poor handling practices to ensure the safety of the work vicinity.Â
3. Uses of Oxygen Cylinders with Incompatible Systems
Oxygen cylinders are not meant to power pneumatic systems, inflate vehicle tyres, or pre-ignite the diesel engine. On the contrary, they are designed to support various industrial and medical equipment. As mentioned, using oxygen cylinders with incompatible systems may weaken the in-built security mechanism. Users should refrain from using oxygen cylinders with incompatible systems.Â
4. Poor-fitting Techniques
Some of the poor fitting techniques are opening and closing valves swiftly, not cleaning cylinders’ valves and associated connections properly, and not keeping cylinders upright. These poor fitting strategies are one of the prominent causes of leakage in oxygen cylinders. Industries should avoid these practices to mitigate the chances of potential accidents due to oxygen leakage. Also, they should only use certified components and lubricants to ensure optimal safety.Â
C] Oxygen Cylinder Storage Regulations For Safe Use At Work
India Gas Cylinder Rules, 2016 sets guidelines for the safe and responsible use of compressed gas cylinders within the industry. Here are a few rules for Indian industries that emphasise the safe handling of oxygen cylinders at work.Â
- Retesting and Inspection Criteria (Rule 26): It outlines the requirements for cylinder testing and mandates periodic testing to ensure their safe usage. Cylinders failing these tests must be rejected or condemned.
- Storage Safety and Cylinder Labelling (Rule 9 Labelling & Rule 21 Storage):Â It specifies that cylinders must be clearly marked with details like the manufacturer, serial number, and gas content. It also emphasises proper storage conditions for compressed gas cylinder storage safety.Â
- Avoiding Dropping and Collisions (Rule 18 (4)): It stresses avoiding dropping cylinders violently and protecting them from colliding with each other.Â
- Safe Cylinder Movement (Rule 18): This guideline emphasises the safe movement of cylinders without dragging or sliding. Instead, it recommends using a hand truck, fork truck, roll platform, or similar device to promote the safe use of oxygen tanks at work.
Specific Precaution Standards for Oxygen Cylinders
- IS 8198 (12.1.1):It states that the storing area should have explosion venting space to channelise the explosion and minimise explosion severity. It also suggests building storage structure roofs with light construction as it helps vent fire flames in the upward direction.
- IS 8198 (12.19.2):Conspicuous signs should be pasted in the storage area to prevent smoking, open lights, or other fire flames.
- IS 8198 (12.19.3):Oxygen cylinders must be kept separated from cylinders containing flammable gases.
- IS 8198 (12.19.4): Oxygen cylinders must not be stored where oil, grease or other combustible substances may come in contact with them.
- IS 8198 (12.19.5):Cylinders must not be stored in the operating rooms.
D] Checklist for Safe Storage of Oxygen Cylinders
1. Location Selection
Location selection is an important aspect of oxygen cylinder storage requirements. The location should be well-ventilated, dry, and secure. As oxygen cylinders can withstand temperatures of 52 degrees Celsius or below, the selected area should be within the cylinders’ ability to withstand heat. Also, keeping in mind the reactive nature of oxygen gas, the storage location should maintain at least a 20-foot distance from highly inflammable materials, gases, or heat sources.Â
2. Proper Storage Setup
Before setting up the proper oxygen cylinder storage, it is essential to ensure they have steel-made mesh walls for interrupted natural ventilation. Racks, chains, or other supporting tools must be laced properly to keep cylinders upright and secure. The placement of cylinders should be firmed and levelled with a fire-resistant base. They should have cabinets, stands, and cages to organize cylinders and prevent bumping over the other cylinders.
3. Labeling and Segregation
Labelling and segregation are two of the best practices for oxygen tank storage that help industries organise their oxygen cylinders. Full and empty cylinders should be segregated separately to facilitate easy inventory management. While clear, visible labelling of oxygen cylinders helps identify the status of cylinders. Doing so eases the cylinder movement and promotes oxygen cylinder storage safety.Â
4. Cylinder Valves and Caps Inspection
Cylinders’ caps help keep the dirt, debris, and moisture away from the valve, while cylinder valves help restrain pressure and flow rate. Since they are one of the prominent components of a cylinder, they should be inspected regularly to ensure their functionality. While inspecting, inspectors should check for corrosion or any damage. If found faulty, it should be replaced promptly with a tested and certified component.
5. Periodic Inspection and Maintenance
Oxygen cylinders should be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure optimal safety and compliance with respective regulations. It should involve visual inspections, leak checks, corrosion, and damage inspections, cleaning, proper ventilation checks, cylinder joints and valve inspections. Each cylinder should be periodically checked with an ultrasonic testing machine to ensure compliance with oxygen cylinder safety rules.Â
6. Fire and Hazardous Material Protection
It is highly essential to place oxygen cylinders in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, flame, and direct sunlight. Also, storage areas should be equipped with fire alarms, fire-resistant walls, and safety blankets designed for use in oxygen-rich environments. Incorporating these safety practices protects oxygen cylinders from fire and hazardous material.
7. Training and Awareness Programs
Training and awareness programmes allow workers to learn safety best practices from experts. It helps them to understand how to handle oxygen cylinders safely. Training and awareness also provide comprehensive knowledge and practical tips to handle emergencies within the workplace. Industries should organise training and awareness programmes more frequently to educate their workers.Â
8. Emergency Response Plan
An emergency response plan helps to handle emergencies more effectively in a preplanned way. Industries dealing with oxygen cylinders should have a clear, actionable emergency response plan in case of leaks or fire. An effective emergency response plan can save lives and help minimise the overall damage.Â
Conclusion
Oxygen cylinders are not flammable objects. However, They may play a role in igniting combustible materials with the help of a heat source. Therefore, it is essential to handle these cylinders with care. Follow the suggested oxygen cylinder safety precautions to safeguard your work vicinity from potential accidents and ensure the optimal safety of your workers.Â
Rama Cylinders is one of the largest manufacturers of oxygen cylinders in the world. We have sold over 7 billion oxygen cylinders worldwide. We manufacture high-pressure oxygen cylinders for a variety of industries. Contact us today to discuss your requirements.
