Routine gases and pressurized devices

Temperature

A pressurized device must not be used at higher or lower pressures and temperatures than those assessed by the manufacturer or an accredited inspection body.

Gas cylinders

Like other chemicals, gases must be registered in the chemical handling system. Furthermore the activity must have operating and maintenance procedures in place which include instructions pertaining to gas cylinder change, maintenance and/or inspection of gas regulators, connections to equipment, etc. The gas line system must be inspected annually.

• Gas cylinders must, as far as possible, be stored in designated gas storage rooms. Non-flammable and flammable gases must be stored in different storage rooms.
• In rooms where work is carried out, only the number of gas cylinders required for the job at hand may be present.
• To prevent the risk of falling or tipping, gas cylinders must be firmly secured, for example by means of a wall bracket, gas trolley or other suitable device, and must always stand upright. Cylinders must be secured in such a way that they can easily be removed without the use of tools and moved to a safe location in the event of fire.
• If the gas cylinders are connected to equipment and therefore time-consuming to disconnect, the rescue service must be informed of this.

Transport of gas cylinders

Cylinders must be moved and transported on trolleys designated for this purpose, all transport of gas bottles both empty and filled is counted as transport of dangerous goods. Small, loose containers must be handled and placed safely. The main tap on the gas cylinder must be closed when the gas is not on use. If the gas cylinder contains flammable gas, there is a risk of flammable gas forming in the event of leakage. In this regard, special care must be taken to eliminate ignition sources.

Signage

A warning sign for gas cylinders (CLP hazard pictogram: black symbol against white background with red frame displaying the text “gas under pressure”) must be displayed on the gas cylinder, on the door to the room/cabinet where gas cylinders are stored, as well as on the door to the area (e.g. corridor, fire compartment) where the cylinders are located. Gas pipes must be marked in each room.

Risk assessment

A risk assessment must be carried out in all activities where gas is handled. When the process, equipment or operating conditions are changed, a new risk assessment must be carried out. Based on the risk assessment, the necessary measures must be taken to ensure safety. There are several different risks to consider when handling gas. This primarily concerns the risks of inhalation, splashes on the skin or in the eyes, suffocation, and fire and explosion. The effect that the gas causes depends, among other things, on which gas it is and what concentration the person is exposed to, as well as the exposure time. If the risk of splashes or other contact cannot be ruled out, personal protective equipment that provides sufficient protection must be used.

In the event of an accident

If the gas container breaks for any reason, people in the immediate vicinity may be injured by the gas or by the container itself. Damage can then occur through suffocation, fire or explosion, by the pressure wave from the gas release or by flying material. The gas can also spread over a larger area, and then it is mainly the chemical properties of the gas that can cause damage. The spread of the gas depends on its physical properties such as the density of the gas in relation to the air, the temperature and external factors such as wind direction and wind speed. Heavy and cold gases spread along the ground while light gases seek upwards.

In the event of an accident, cordon off the area and warn personnel and the surrounding area. Only persons needed for rescue work are allowed in the risk area. Damaged cylinders must be marked and the gas supplier must be informed before further handling/transport of the vessel.

In the event of a serious accident/incident

In the event of a serious accident or incident, the employer must report this to the Swedish Work Environment Authority as soon as possible. The employer is responsible for ensuring that accidents and incidents involving the use of pressurized devices are documented and investigated, and that necessary measures indicated by the investigation are implemented.