SAFE PROCEDURE FOR GAS CYLINDER STORAGE

Cylinder should be stored in a clean, cool, dry, well-ventilated place away from boilers, or potential sources of heat and such place of storage shall be easily accessible. Always ensure the good housekeeping in the cylinder storage area.

The storage room shall be of fire resistant construction.

Cylinders should not be stacked in a horizontal position and not allowed from free fall. Ensure its secured chain preferably in the bottom and middle.

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Cylinders containing flammable/toxic gases to be kept separated from each other and cylinders containing different types of gases shall be stored at an adequate distance or by a suitable partition wall.

Empty cylinders should be separated from filled ones and care to be taken that all valves are tightly shut. The proper identification to be in place.

Avoid storage of cylinders in a corrosive atmosphere.

No inflammable material should be stored in the immediate vicinity of this cylinder or in the same room in which it is kept & no combustion activity / hot work around storage area.

Do not use oil or similar lubricant on the valves or other fittings of the cylinder.

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Discourage usage of magnets during loading or unloading operations of cylinders with any compressed gas.

No person shall smoke in the storage shed, or carry matches, fuses or other appliances that can cause ignition in the premises.

No Smoking Signs in English or any regional language shall be pasted at prominent locations outside the storage shed.

All cylinders shall have warning sticker, color coding & valve caps. Empty cylinders and all full cylinders should have the valve caps.

No throwing /duping of rolling at gas cylinder shall be allowed.

Use of non return valves and flash black arrestor.

Place fire extinguisher near the cylinder.

Store cylinders upright and secure them with a chain, strap, or cable to a stationary building support or to a proper cylinder cart to prevent them from tipping or falling.

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Store empty cylinders separate from full ones.

Completely close the valves, and keep the valve protection devices, such as caps or guards, securely in place.

Store cylinders in a dry, well-ventilated area at least 20 feet from combustible materials. Do not keep cylinders in lockers. If they leak, a buildup of flammable or other types of gases can occur inside the locker.

Mark the storage area with proper precautionary signs, such as flammable, oxidizer, or toxic.

Display the Safety Data Sheet in the Cylinder storage area.

Place them in a location where they will not be subject to mechanical or physical damage, heat, or electrical circuits to prevent possible explosion or fire. Keep cylinders away from vehicle traffic.

Keep oxygen cylinders 20 feet away from fuel-gas cylinders, such as acetylene, or separate them with a noncombustible barrier (such as a wall) at least 5 feet high with a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour.

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Carbon Monoxide Safety

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (chemical abbreviation: CO) is a colorless, odorless, and highly poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of fuels. Mostly you can find in the Steel Making Industries. Engines powered by gasoline, propane, or diesel release carbon monoxide. So do fuel-fired heaters and certain welding processes.

Since you cannot see or smell CO, you need a detector to warn if this hazard is present. Breathing in CO gas interferes with your body’s ability to use oxygen.

Eventually, it deprives the body tissues of the oxygen that it needs for survival.

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10 Simple Steps to Create a Safe Work Environment

CO gas can accumulate in any enclosed or poorly ventilated space where a source of CO is being operated. In this article we will discuss about the CO exposure and prevention for the construction workplace.

These include

• Vehicle and equipment cabs

• Parked vehicles

• Basements or parts of buildings under construction

• Tarped-in areas

• Parking and mechanic garages

• Workshops

• Warehouses

• Low-lying confined spaces (sewers, manholes, etc.).

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Symptoms and Health Effects

The health effects of CO will defend in the concentration of the exposure.

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Nausea

• Dizziness

• Confusion

• Shortness of breath

• Impaired vision or hearing

At the first indication of symptoms, get into the fresh air. With severe exposure, seek immediate medical attention. Continued exposure can lead to loss of consciousness, arrested breathing, heart failure, and eventually death.

Workers with heart and lung disease are particularly sensitive to CO exposure. In addition, cigarette smokers have higher levels of CO in their blood and may experience the effects sooner than non-smokers.

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Prevention

Your organization Health and Safety Program should have written policies and procedures in place to control and monitor CO exposure in the workplace.

Ensure that the concentration of CO does not exceed the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL).

OELs restrict the amount and length of time a worker can be exposed to hazardous chemicals in the air. Control of Exposure to Biological or Chemical Agents sets the OEL for carbon monoxide as 25 parts per million (ppm) for an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA). Exposure shall not exceed 75 ppm for any period of 30 minutes and 125 ppm at any time.

 

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Training and Education

• Inform workers about the health effects of CO exposure, sources of CO in the workplace, and precautions that must be followed to ensure they are not exposed.

• Do not allow workers to work alone in places where CO may accumulate.

• Teach workers how to operate fuel-powered equipment safely.

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Use a direct-reading instrument like portable gas detector or fix the gas detector in the workplace to test the air and warn workers about dangerous levels of CO. Units designed for in-home use are not suitable for the workplace. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

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Tools and Equipment

• Where possible, operate all fuel-powered tools and equipment outdoors. For example, put welding machines and generators outside and run the leads

or the pump into the building.

• If fuel-powered tools and equipment must be used inside, avoid unnecessary idling, racing the engine, or braking erratically.

• Inspect and maintain fuel-powered tools and equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure they run properly and as cleanly

as possible. Look for such things as leaking exhaust connections or manifolds, as well as loose or broken floor boards, exhaust pipes, and mufflers. Ensure that the air intake and fuel systems are working correctly.

• Never run an engine in an enclosed space unless a ventilation or exhaust system is available and working properly.

• Use electric tools or equipment where possible and when working in poorly ventilated areas.

• Use an indirect-fired heater for heating the work area rather than a direct-fired heater (e.g., open-flame or closed-flame heater). Indirect-fired heaters vent

combustion by-products (including CO) outdoors while directing the heated air inside.

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The Benefits of Implementing a Safety Culture in Your Workplace

Ventilation

• Make sure the work area is well-ventilated.

• Keep doors and windows open, if possible.

• Use fans to bring in fresh air from outside.

• When necessary, use exhaust hoses to draw engine exhaust out of the work area. If ventilation remains inadequate after implementing these control measures, use a supplied-air respirator.

The Importance of Training and Education in HSE

Know about the NFPA 704 Standard - Identification of the Hazards of Materials

 

Know about the NFPA 704 Standard - Identification of Hazards of Material

Know about the NFPA 704 Standard - Identification of the Hazards of Materials

 

What is NFPA 704?

NFPA 704 provides a simple, readily recognized, easily understood system for   identifying the specific hazards of a material and the severity of the hazard that would occur during an emergency response. The system addresses the health, flammability, instability, and special hazards presented from short term, acute exposures that could occur as a result of a fire, spill, or similar emergency.

 

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Why should I use the NFPA 704 rating system?

NFPA 704 labels provide an appropriate signal or alert for the protection of emergency response personnel, assist in planning for effective fire and emergency control operations, including cleanup. It can also assist all designated personnel, engineers, plant, and safety personnel in taking inventory and evaluating the relative hazards of materials in their facility.

 

What information on the SDS do I use to rate my hazardous materials?

The ratings can be determined by using the information found on a HazCom 2012 compliant Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and comparing it to the criteria provided in NFPA 704. The following sections of the SDSs should be reviewed when determining the ratings:

Health – Sections 2, 4, 8, 9, 11

Flammability – Sections 2, 3, 9

Instability – Sections 5, 7, 10

Special Hazards – Sections 5, 9, 10, 11

 

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How is the rating displayed?

The system is characterized by the "diamond" that is actually a "square-on-point" shape. It identifies the hazards of a material and the degree of severity of the health, flammability, and instability hazards. Hazard severity is indicated by a numerical rating that ranges from zero (0) indicating a minimal hazard, to   four (4) indicating a severe hazard. The hazards are arranged spatially as follows: health at nine o'clock position, flammability at twelve o'clock position, and instability at three o'clock position. In addition to the spatial orientation that can be used to distinguish the hazards, they are also color coded as follows: blue for health, red for flammability, and yellow for instability. The shades of red, blue and yellow are not regulated, but should be contrasting colors. The hazard ratings may have colored backgrounds with contrasting-colored numerals or colored numerals with a white background.

 

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Where should I post the NFPA 704 placards at my facility and how many placards should I use?

It is important to note that the placard is meant to provide quick hazard information for emergency responders.  It should be visible in case of an emergency where the responders are likely to enter. If there are numerous areas where the responders could enter the facility, there should be numerous placards. The placement and quantity should be decided using a facility’s best judgment coupled with the advice from your Authority Having Jurisdiction. At a minimum the placard should be posted on the two exterior walls of a facility or building, each access to a room or area, or each principal means of access to an exterior storage area.  Section 4.3 of NFPA 704 provides guidance on locations for posting.

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