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Acetylene Canister Storage - New Restrictions

By: Mike Richards

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A important element of creating a protected environment for workers mandates eliminating the odds that an employee’s surroundings will in some aspect be a factor or raise the risk of an mistake taking place. Risk managers are required to regularly complete an the evaluation of a facility’s workflow, especially if it is repeatedly altered in order to adapt to other projects, or if employees are regularly likely to progress about the building or complex and execute their individual jobs in changing conditions.

The storage of potentially unsafe chemicals falls in this mode of risk mitigation. Keeping workers secure from the dangers posed by certain kinds of materials, gases or other items means more than just reducing access. It mandates understanding the characteristics of the materials themselves, the conditions in which they could probably become unsafe, and the regulatory guidelines that have been mandated to decrease the probability of an accident taking place.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recently determined a Direct Final Rule regarding the acetylene industry that reviews out-of-date protocols covering the handling, storage and transport of cylinders containing this volatile gas. Becoming law in effect November 2009, the appended protocols are intended to enhance the wellbeing of employees who on a regular basis come into contact acetylene.

The brand new policies make it clear that supervisors are required that their work space correspond to the Compressed Gas Association Pamphlet G-1-2003, Acetylene. A key proviso of this guide revises the conditions in which acetylene cylinders should be managed. Previously, it was not uncommon for cylinders to be transported from facility to facility in enclosed environments, be they car trunks, sealed trucks or perhaps even in boxes. Facilities were also allowed to leave acetylene cylinders in airless lockers, closets, drawers or small storage rooms. These practices dated back to 1966, when acetylene storage statues were last revised.

This last habit is no longer acceptable, due to the explosion and detonation threat posed by potential gas increase from leaking cylinders. In order to prevent this type of mistake from taking place, a new requirement that acetylene cylinders be stored in well-ventilated lockers or cabinets have been put into position. Examples of the satisfactory kind of gas cylinder storage units include Justrite aluminum cylinder lockers, that feature an open grille design and many configurations to permit horizontal, vertical or combined storage. The aluminum construction also makes the lockers resistant to corrosion, making them fitting for service on open-air sites where burglary of cylinders is a concern.

Fire-resistant safety cabinets are not suitable for acetylene cylinder storage. Even though these units may seem to afford protection against possible detonation, their air-tight limitations can in reality contribute towards the increase of unsafe escaped gas pressures, escalating risks even with their well-built structure. The instability and insecurity of acetylene gas means that no chances should be taken during storage. The updated OSHA protocols should improve worker safety across a wide array of industries, specifically those where large-scale welding is a general activity.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

About The Author: Mike Richards is a risk management expert specializing in protective safety equipment and health safety equipment.

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