Safety is a top-priority within Noble Gas Solutions. We constantly evaluate the handling of hazardous materials by our employees, to ensure a safe working environment for the team.
Safety measures don’t just end at our plant. We recommend anyone handling individual cylinders wear leather gloves, safety glasses, and safety shoes, like steel-toed boots. We recommend asking for assistance whenever a cylinder must be moved manually. Here are some tips to follow for the safe handling of individual compressed gas cylinders.
Moving Cylinders
1. Minimize the need for manually rolling of cylinders as much as possible to reduce risk of personal injury.Use adequate hand carts when moving cylinders, especially over 15 ft. distances.
2. Only use approved cylinder handling equipment when moving cylinders. Examples: cylinder hand trucks, pallet jacks, or forklifts of adequate size and strength.
3. Stay alert and be aware of the conditions in the surrounding area where cylinders are being moved. Examples: debris, blocking objects, water or ice, uneven surfaces, narrow aisles.
4. Do not move cylinders over power cords.
5. Avoid pinch points when positioning cylinders on handling equipment for movement. Make sure all equipment is secure, with nothing hanging or loose that could get caught.
6. Ensure that cylinders are equipped with provisions for protective caps. Do not move cylinders if protective caps are not in place and tightened.
7. Avoid dropping cylinders or allowing them to strike against each other violently. If a cylinder is falling, let it fall – preventing the fall may cause personal injury.
Lifting Cylinders
Avoid manually moving cylinders whenever possible. However, if a cylinder must be moved by hand, recruit assistance and follow these guidelines.
- Position the cylinder closely to your body and ensure a firm grip.
- Keep feet at approximately shoulder width
- Keep elbows tucked close to the body
- Maintain a straight back and lift using leg strength
- With a pick-up truck, use the tailgate and dock for leverage when possible.
Practices to Avoid
While moving cylinders, the following practices should be avoided to ensure safety of the persons involved.
- The use of electric magnets
- Use of slings (unless proper slings specified)
- Use of cylinders as rollers to move other objects, full or empty
- Lifting a cylinder by the valve protection cap, collar, or other valve protection devices
- Moving a cylinder that is designed to have a valve protection, without the protection in place
For more information, please visit GAWDA or contact us here.
