Compressed Gas Cylinder Hazards You Might Come Across

High-pressure cylinder storage of gases or vapours is naturally hazardous. To a degree, gas cylinder hazards are dependent on the type of gas that is inside each individual cylinder, but even empty cylinders can present many potential dangers. The UK regulations and guidance for drum and cylinder handling are set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and are a legal requirement.

The most immediate hazards are the ones from leaks, which can occur during the storage of compressed gas, while transporting compressed gas, or simply when using them. Leaks can occur from faulty cylinder valves, cracks, or operator error, which can cause the following hazards:

• Leaks of flammable gases, which may ignite and cause fires or explosions
• Leaks of toxic gases, which can present a health hazard to the site staff
• Leaks of greenhouse gases, which may damage plant or wildlife and the ozone layer

Leaks can be released slowly or extremely quickly, but both present significant dangers and are an example of what can happen with a faulty or poorly handled cylinder. You can help reduce leak hazards by storing cylinders in adequately ventilated areas, handling training, and safety checks.

As leading providers of a wide range of gas bottle storage and handling products, we are a good source of information on potential hazards and how to mitigate them. Browse through our stock and buy online with free UK delivery and contact us if you have any product questions.

Examples of Gas Cylinder Hazards and Solutions

Gas cylinders are used in a wide range of settings, from industrial work to domestic BBQs. While leaks of the gas itself are the main hazard to be aware of, there are some other gas cylinder hazards that are commonly seen in commercial and industrial environments:

• Blast impacts: If a cylinder catches fire it may explode, which can create a significant blast radius depending on the size of the container. Blasts can fling large or small metal fragments from the cylinder at high speeds, which can cause a potentially fatal injury. In some cases, the force of the blast itself is enough to cause injury or death.
• Fire: Fire is the main hazard when working with flammable gases or liquids such as liquefied petroleum gas. Fires may occur alongside a blast, which can happen due to a cylinder being too close to heat sources, a naked light or another source of ignition near a leak. Non-flammable gases, like oxygen, can ignite when they are compressed.
• Falling cylinders: Most gas cylinders are fairly large and cumbersome, but some industrial cylinders can dwarf the average person. As a result, dropped or falling gas cylinders can present a significant health and safety hazard. Even smaller gas bottles can have densely-packed contents, which means they can easily cause an injury too.
• Handling accidents: Mistakes when using valves, pressure relief devices or just when moving a cylinder can cause injury. Poor training, bad-quality handling products and human error can all contribute to pinched hands, foot and head impact, crushing, cylinder toppling, and a whole host of other potentially dangerous situations.

Now that you are aware of examples of potential hazards, there are several ways you can reduce this danger. Although hazards might present a dramatic health and safety concern, there is no reason why storing or handling gas bottles of any kind should be dangerous when handled with proper care.

Safety Practices to Prevent Gas Cylinder Hazards

Many problems arise from the improper storage of gas cylinders, so there are a few safety regulations to improve hazard safety that are set by the HSE. These include:

• Always store cylinders in an upright position
• Ensure any cylinder is secured in a cage
• Keep cylinders well away from any heat sources
• Restrict all handling, storage, or use duties to trained personnel only
• Have fire extinguishers within easy reach while working with gas cylinders on-site

Handling accidents can be prevented or reduced in severity by following some simple safety guidance, too. Best practices for avoiding gas cylinder handling hazards include:

• Wear appropriate PPE (such as gloves, masks, or eye protection) when filling cylinders
• Do not use a gas cylinder to fill up another one
• Ensure all handling areas (or storage areas) are sufficiently lit and ventilated
• Never drop, throw, or otherwise be cavalier with a gas bottle – even if it is empty
• Make sure all gas cylinders are secured and the valves are closed before transport

If you manage to keep the above in check, it is perfectly possible to store flammable, toxic, or greenhouse gases safely. Check out our gas cages, cylinder wall racks and gas cylinder floor stands, which will make for excellent, convenient, and safe storage. 

For handling hazards, we also offer several high-quality products that will make reliable solutions. See our selection of cylinder trucks, which include 2, 3 and 4-wheeled trolleys, and our gas cylinder transport pallets, which will greatly help to reduce the risk of handling cylinders.

---