2. Compressed Gas Safety University of Nebraska EHS Lab Safety Colloquium Series Initiative

3. The information and recommendations contained herein have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable and represent the current opinion on the subject. No warranty guarantee or representation is made by Linweld Inc. as to the correctness or sufficiency of any information contained herein and Linweld Inc. assumes no responsibility therewith. The content in this document is not to be construed as legal advice or the final authority regarding OSHA, EPA, DOT or any other government agencies.

4. When it comes to handling compressed gas cylinders and cryogenics; there are only three potential problems. The Containers, The Contents And The Pressure. Other Than That - There Is No Problem!

5. The Containers

6. Gas Packs

7. Gas Packs

8. Handling Compressed Gas Cylinders oNever use cylinders as rollers. oNever lift a cylinder by the cap. oNever move or transfer cylinders without their caps. oNever allow cylinders to be exposed to flame or extreme temperatures. oNever tamper with valves. Let’s Talk About The Container

9. Cylinder Securement o All compressed gas cylinders MUST be secured from falling at ALL times. o Use a chain or other substantial restraint devices whether or not the cylinders are in storage or in use. 29CFR 1910.101(b) & CGA 3.7.4

10. Visually Inspect All Cylinders o Watch for asymmetrical ice patches on the side of the cylinder. o Watch for excessive ice build up on the pressure relief valves. o Arc burns, excessive heat, corrosion and gouges are a few things that can weaken the walls of a cylinder.

11. Protect Valves o Use caps on all cylinders that are able to receive a cap except when connected for use. o Any cracked or dented caps should be brought to the attention of your Linweld Representative. 29CFR 1910.101(a) & CGA 3.4.1

12. oRegulators are designed to reduce compressed gas pressures to usable pressures. oRegulators come in high & low pressure designs. oIncorrectly exchanging or interchanging regulators can have catastrophic consequences. Gas Regulators

13. o Compressed Gas Regulators are sophisticated and exact metering devices that are required to be used and maintained according to manufacturer recommendations.

14. Gas Regulators The internal working parts of the regulator are precision units. Only qualified technicians should clean or repair a regulator The low pressure gauge indicates the delivery pressure to the hoses & torch The inlet connections - More just right & left hand thread regulators and connectors are specific to their application. Keep free of oil, grease, & dirt The Pressure adjusting screw turning clockwise allows the gas to flow turning counter clockwise reduces or stops the gas flow The High pressure gauge Indicates the pressure from tank

15. Interchanging gas regulators has several potentially hazardous outcomes. oThe density and the viscosity of various gases change their flows through flow meters. Thus interchanging flow meters between different gases may result in inaccurate readings. The 0 2 flow meter is not accurate with Helium, or with air. Gas Regulators Potential Hazards

16. Interchanging gas regulators has several potentially hazardous outcomes. oDifferent gases have different effects with the internal components of the various regulators. Some gases can deteriorate the diaphragms and other working parts. Gas Regulators Potential Hazards

17. Gas Regulators Handling & Use o Regulators are gas specific and not necessarily interchangeable! o Always make sure that the regulator and valve fittings are compatible. o Never use adapters beyond manufacturers recommen- dation.

18. o After the regulator is attached, the cylinder valve should be opened just enough to indicate pressure on the regulator gauge (no more than one full turn) and all the con- nections checked with a soap solution for leaks. Gas Regulators Handling & Use

19. Interchanging gas regulators has several potentially hazardous outcomes. oOxidizing, Flammable, Toxic, Corrosive and Strong Oxidizing gasses are incompatible and auto-reactive. Even trace amounts in the regulators or gas lines could have potentially catastrophic results. Gas Regulators Potential Hazards

20. oFurther information can be found in ANSI/CGA V-1-1994 ‘Standard for Compressed Gas Cylinder Valve Outlet and Inlet Connections”. oUNL SOP http://ehs.unl.edu Gas Regulators Potential Hazards

21. The Contents Hazardous Material is any material known to create a danger to any person’s health, life, or property through contact, exposure, inhalation, fire, explosion or environmental pollution. All compressed & cryogenic gases are considered Hazardous Materials.

22. Content Identification All compressed gas cylinders are required to be identified as to their contents. OSHA Required Components Product name Precautionary statement Responsible company Always check the cylinder label; NEVER rely on the color of a cylinder as to its contents. The Contents

23. ToxicIrritation Flammable Sensitization CarcinogenicExplosive ReactiveBiological RadioactiveCorrosive Teratogenic Mutigenetic The Contents - Types of Hazards

24. Gases stored as liquids at temperatures below -130 o F. Helium /-452 o F Nitrogen /-320 o F Argon /-302 o F Oxygen /-297 o F The Contents Cryogenic Liquids

25. Gases stored as liquids at temperatures above -130 o F. Nitrous Oxide / -127 o F Carbon Dioxide / -109 o F Propane / -44 o F Anhydrous Ammonia / -28 o F The Contents Non-Cryogenic Liquids

26. Lack of correct PPE and exposure to Liquid Propane

27. oNever allow liquids to contact skin or eyes. oIf exposed, warm area with warm water. oMake a medical referral. oOxygen Displacement oCan cause asphyxiation The Contents Low Temperature Hazards

28. Central nervous system oAnoxia oDirect action on neurons Target organ effects oLiver oKidneys oBlood oReproductive system The Contents Health Hazards

29. Flammable Limits (in Air) 0% TOO LEANTOO RICH LELUEL FIRE OR EXPLOSION Acetylene /LEL 2.2% - UEL 82.5% Hydrogen /LEL 4.0% - UEL 74.5% Propane / LEL 2.2% - UEL 9.5% The Contents Explosive Hazards 100%

30. oSupports combustion. oDo not use near oil or grease. oNever refer to oxygen as “air”. oLiquid oxygen can saturate clothing, making them flammable. oKeep 20ft away or separated by a ½ hour rated fire resistant wall from flammable materials. The Contents Oxidizers

31. Fire Triangle & Fire Tetrahedron HEAT FUEL OXYGEN UNINHIBITED CHEMICAL REACTION The Contents Explosive Hazards

32. Personal Protective Equipment Gloves Eye Protection Face Protection Clothing and Coverings Atmospheric Monitoring The Contents Handling & Storage

33. Temperature Weight Rapid Vaporization Pressure Oxygen Displacement or Enrichment (CO2 is a vasodilator) The Contents Hazards

34. The Pressure Expansion Rates Besides the contact of cryogenic liquid with human tissue there is the rapid vaporization that must be taken into account.

35. Coffee Cup Illustration  One cup of Liquid Oxygen at an expansion rate of 860:1 will produce 649 cubic feet of gas.  One cup of Liquid Nitrogen at an expansion rate of 696:1 will produce 600 cubic feet of gas.  One cup of Liquid Argon at an expansion rate of 841:1 will produce 512 cubic feet of gas.

36. The Pressure Asphyxiation

37. What does 1/2 pound of Dynamite look like? Let’s Talk About The Pressure

38. The compression of gases is similar to the compression of a spring, the greater compression the greater the release of the stored energy there is. However, unlike a spring in which the energy is released in the opposite direction that it is compressed. Gases do not have a shape, and when accidentally released; releases its stored energy in all directions. A “K” size nitrogen compressed to 2200 pounds per square inch, has the stored energy equivalent to a half pound of TNT! If there was an uncontrolled release of energy such as a valve being sheared off, or the cylinder failed in some way, you would have a rocket or a bomb. Both are undesirable options. Don L Wenzl, LINWELD Specialty Gas Technician Thanks to Don L Wenzl, LINWELD Specialty Gas Technician Cylinder Force - Don’t Make A Rocket, Man.

39. Other Safety Concerns

40. o Compressed gas streams should never be directed toward any person. CGA 3.3.10 o Federal Standard: compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment. 1910.242(b)

41. oAlways keep the regulator free of oil, grease and other flammable substances oUse the correct regulators for the specific gas service. oNever hammer or use ‘cheater bars’ when connecting or disconnecting regulators or manifold connections. oNever ‘tape’ or attempt to ‘wrap’ any leaking connections.

42. oDO NOT change the inlet connection on a regulator in an attempt to use the regulator for a different gas service. oNever stand in front or behind a regulator when opening the cylinder valve. oIdentify ‘full’ & ‘empty’ cylinders and maintain proper seperations.

43. The scrapper’s pickup truck on which the Oxygen GP was being transported.

44. The pressure relief devices had been removed and plugged using a threaded cap

45. Cylinder exploded at 12:40 PM while transport vehicle was parked on busy Interstate highway Vehicle Location Cylinder Trajectory

46. The blast blew one individual across 5 lanes of traffic. The other was blown approximately 40 feet. Both men survived

47. Cylinder flew approximately ¼ mile before plunging through the roof of an apartment, severing a main natural gas line and coming to rest in the living space Plywood applied over hole in roof

48. Despite heavy damage, no injuries to apartment tenants were reported

49. Apartment interior

50. Note that the media reported the event as a Butane cylinder explosion

51. Monday the 29th of September, 2003, a fitter with a work van left an E size Oxygen and Acetylene cylinder on the back seat of a Toyota dual cab over the weekend.

52. This van was destroyed by an explosion from a carbon dioxide cylinder that was allowed to be over-heated.

53. This is an example of why cylinders need to be correctly secured while being transported.

54. oAlways ensure the safety of yourself & those around you before starting any job. oNever ‘look the other way if you see something that is unsafe. oSafety is a Personal Issue … Safety is all about YOU! The Conclusion Conclusion

55. Additional Information  MSDS  Compress Gas Association (CGA)  Pamphlet P-39, Oxygen-Rich Atmosphere  www.cganet.com www.cganet.com  UNL EHS Safe Operating Procedures  http://ehs.unl.edu  Your Linweld Representative The Conclusion