Top tips to help you store gas cylinders safely
Compressed gas cylinders are quite common in most workplaces, especially medical and industrial environments. But if they are stored or handled improperly, gas cylinders can cause a major safety and health hazard in your workplace.
Many companies hire gas cages from Lakeside Hire to safely store their gas cylinders for industrial or residential use. You should note that it’s crucial to store gas cylinders correctly so that you may reduce risks associated with these cylinders. This article provides the top tips to help you to store gas cylinders safely.
Restrict entry
You should only allow trained employees who fully know the importance of storing and handling gas cylinders correctly and safely to enter a gas cylinder storage space. You should note that your gas cylinder storage area can best be located away from high traffic areas or busy paths on your business premises as well as away from your customer areas.
Besides this, gas cylinders can be heavy even if they are not filled, but when they discharge, they can cause serious harm. Therefore, make sure that your trained employees handle these gas cylinders carefully and utilize footwear and gloves when carrying them. Take note that they should never drop, throw, roll or even mishandle these gas cylinders. They should only move the large gas cylinders using a lift or trolley.
Gas cylinder storage space should be ventilated
You need to make sure that the gas cylinder storage space regardless of whether it is a store, cage, or a cellar environment is dry, cool, and well ventilated. Ventilation is important to ensure that flammable gases or unexpected release of toxic gases are not trapped inside the space because this can have hazardous consequences.
It’s worth mentioning that poor ventilation happens to be the leading cause of most gas cylinder accidents. Therefore, you can decide to store all your gas cylinders outdoors in a weatherproof, well ventilated, and secure gas cylinder cage or store. If possible, make sure that you get a gas cylinder cage because most of them are usually suitable for storing these cylinders. Even better, these cages are well ventilated, ensuring that the release of gas doesn’t affect your health or that of your employees.
Safely position the gas cylinders
Also, all gas cylinders whether they are used or unused need to be secured safely using a chain and stored upright. A gas cylinder must be positioned away from any contact with sunlight as well as away from direct heat sources. A gas cylinder must never be placed on uneven floors because this gives it the chances of falling over and combusting. Also, make sure that the gas cylinder is positioned away from places where they cannot contact water.
Full and empty gas cylinders should never be segregated in your gas cylinder storage space. Remember that the weight of a gas cylinder can be a good indicator of whether or not it’s empty. But to make sure that there is safety, it’s a good idea to label unused and used gas cylinders. You should not empty the contents of a gas cylinder into another.