Working Safely with Gases: Preparation and Education Are Key

The word gas implies that a chemical is in it's gaseous state. Because there are numerous types of gases one can work with it is vital that proper education be obtained from a professional instructor prior to commencing work.

Risks Posed By Gases

• Poisonous or toxic such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monixide, chlorine.
• Combustible
• Explosive such as propane, hydrogen
• Corrosive (they burn through things) such as acid, sulfur dioxide, chlorine
• Pyrophoric (they burn when they come in contact with air and they can ignite spontaneously) such as silane, phosphine

Most accidents occur because of:

• Improper training.
• Not using adequate personal safety equipment.
• Poor handling and storage techniques.
• Faulty equipment e.g. valves on cylinders.

Safety Precautions

• Never smoke around gases.
• Always use proper breathing masks.
• Use body protection, such as plastic attire, face and eye protection, in case of an accident.
• Have eyewash and body wash stations readily available.
• Any container that contains gas, e.g. a cylinder, should be properly and clearly labeled. If the label is damaged mark as ‘unidentifiable' and return to supplier immediately.
• A competent person should inspect piping systems for leaks on a regular basis.
• Heat sources and gases should be kept away from each other.
• Proper storage of gases is vital. Some gases need to be stored at specific temperatures. And there are some gases that should never be stored together, e.g. acetylene and propane.
• Assure there is adequate ventilation in the room.
• When working with gases in cylinders:
  • Make sure all cylinders are properly labeled.
  • Do not rely on the color of the cylinder for identifying a gas.
  • Cylinders should be placed on their sides, or if standing up they need to be tied with a chain so there is no chance of it falling.
  • If the valve breaks, because of the pressure, the valve or the cylinder, or both, will project with great force.
  • Always know what's in the cylinder, and how much pressure there is.
  • Never try to repair a cylinder.
  • Never mix gases in a cylinder.