Cylinder Handling

Gas cylinders are large, heavy and relatively unstable due to the small base-diameter-to-
height ratio. It is important to understand how they are potentially dangerous if not treated
with care and respect.

Always…
Wear protective clothing	Use a cylinder trolley	Store cylinders appropriately

Gloves, safety shoes and goggles should be in good condition. Avoid loose clothing, particularly sleeves, which may catch on cylinder valves	Use an appropriate cylinder trolley to move cylinders. Make sure cylinders are properly located and ensure the cylinder valves are shut	Always store cylinders upright and restrain them to prevent them falling over. When designing a storage facility, you should ensure all gases are appropriately segregated
Beware of…
Poor surfaces	Manual handling	Freestanding cylinders

Uneven, sloping, slippery, vibrating surfaces and those with debris can cause difficulties when handling cylinders	Prevent cylinders sliding away when lifting from the horizontal to vertical or vice versa. Use kinetic handling methods	Never turn your back on a freestanding cylinder; always ensure the cylinder is restrained
Never…
Drop cylinders	Catch falling cylinders	Roll a cylinder

Cylinders should not be subjected to any impact. Take care when moving and using them	Do not attempt to catch a falling cylinder – simply get out of its path	Rolling cylinders along the ground will damage them or may open the cylinder valve