| Ignorance of workplace safety standards is no | | | | the compressed gases leak in an environment |
| excuse for noncompliance. For companies that | | | | that lacks proper ventilation. Flammable gases |
| work with compressed gas and other gas handling | | | | should be kept away from sparks or sources of |
| equipment, dangers related to the use of | | | | high heat to prevent fires from occurring. Toxic |
| complicated technology and other safety hazards | | | | and corrosive gases require special handling as |
| are a continual risk. Gas line ruptures have the | | | | outlined in Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). |
| potential to cause lasting damage to people, | | | | All leaks should be reported and, if called for in the |
| equipment, and the environment. | | | | MSDS, personnel should be evacuated from the |
| Your company has a duty to protect its | | | | hazardous release area. |
| employees from occupational hazards. To ensure | | | | The malfunction of gas handling equipment can |
| workplace safety is upheld, the United States | | | | result in far-reaching damages. Even a small |
| government established regulations that turn this | | | | rupture may lead to expensive lawsuits, hefty |
| moral obligation into a legal one. Under the | | | | government fines, employee injuries or deaths, |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration | | | | and property damage. In 2003, Texas-based |
| (OSHA) guidelines, employers must "maintain a | | | | Brigham Exploration Co. faced $147,800 in OSHA |
| safe workplace" by planning for any situation for | | | | fines in connection with the death of a single |
| which published standards exist. | | | | worker after a pressurized gas line ruptured. Long |
| Proper employee training is vital in avoiding gas line | | | | term consequences for companies include possible |
| failures. The workers who handle a company's gas | | | | declines in worker productivity and significant |
| equipment should be familiar with the most | | | | harm to a facility's reputation due to bad publicity. |
| common causes of ruptures, such as | | | | Protective gear, or personal protective equipment |
| over-pressurization, regulator failure, mechanical | | | | (PPE), is good measure against workplace |
| stress, or corrosion. | | | | accidents. By donning gloves, eye guards, aprons, |
| Common Causes of Gas Line Rupture: | | | | respirators and other wear, the risk of exposure |
| Over-Pressurization | | | | to dangerous gases is reduced. MSDSs should be |
| Over-pressurization of a compressed gas cylinder | | | | consulted for guidance as to what gear is |
| can result in ruptures. The contents of the | | | | sufficient protection based on what materials are |
| container may erupt at high speeds or send | | | | being handled. |
| debris hurtling through the air, posing a great | | | | Accidents can also be easily contained or avoided |
| safety risk to bystanders. The escaped gas can | | | | when companies properly implement safety |
| pose a threat if it is toxic or otherwise corrosive | | | | equipment. The two most common oversights |
| in nature, and flammable gas may ignite once | | | | that violate OSHA regulations are the improper |
| released from its container and comes into | | | | storage of pressurized gas canisters and the |
| contact with an ignition source, such as sparks, | | | | failure to install and properly use valve caps. |
| electrical circuits, flames, hot surfaces or | | | | Storage concerns creep up often because |
| incompatible materials. Several safety | | | | environmental changes and simple lapses of |
| attachments are available to protect against | | | | judgment can lead to major problems. The |
| over-pressurization. Rupture discs are designed so | | | | damage caused by storage mistakes can range |
| that, as canister pressure rises, the seal will burst | | | | from the deterioration of a canister's sensitive |
| and the cylinder's contents will slowly be released. | | | | contents to the explosive effect of propelling a |
| In situations where temperature could pose a | | | | pressurized gas canister though the air with |
| threat, fusible plugs are designed to melt and | | | | enough force to crush concrete. |
| release the gas long before critical pressure levels | | | | Compressed gas may be highly reactive to |
| are reached. | | | | changes in temperature or to corruption of its |
| Common Causes of Gas Line Rupture: Regulator | | | | canister's seal. For the proper handling of |
| Failure | | | | compressed gas cylinders, OSHA requires that |
| Automatic pressure regulators are often used to | | | | they be "stored in a well-protected, well-ventilated, |
| lower gas pressure in a cylinder to safe levels for | | | | dry location at least 20 (6.1 m) feet from highly |
| a particular job. Two-stage regulators are | | | | combustible materials such as oil or excelsior. |
| recommended over single-stage because they | | | | Cylinders should be stored in definitely assigned |
| deliver a more constant pressure under more | | | | places away from elevators, stairs, or gangways. |
| precise conditions. But while a safety measure in | | | | Assigned storage spaces shall be located where |
| itself, these regulators can also fail and cause a | | | | cylinders will not be knocked over or damaged by |
| damaging gas line rupture. Regulator failure often | | | | passing or falling objects, or subject to tampering |
| occurs when a compressed gas cylinder is | | | | by unauthorized persons. Cylinders shall not be |
| connected to equipment that is not meant for | | | | kept in unventilated enclosures such as lockers |
| use with that particular type of cylinder. Attaching | | | | and cupboards." |
| a flammable gas canister to the connection for an | | | | OSHA currently requires compressed gas |
| oxidizing gas would be like trying to fit a square | | | | cylinders to have pressure relief valves or caps |
| peg in a round hole - but with much worse | | | | installed and maintained in accordance with the |
| consequences. To help prevent such missteps, | | | | organization's Compressed Gas Association |
| different classes of gas may be assigned their | | | | Pamphlets. These small devices are designed to |
| own valve outlet designs. | | | | automatically shut off the delivery of gas if the |
| Common Causes of Gas Line Rupture: Mechanical | | | | flow exceeds the preset limit. Scott Specialty |
| Stress | | | | Gases, a leading producer and supplier of specialty |
| Mechanical stress can take a toll on the reliability | | | | gas products and equipment, developed the Model |
| of your equipment. gas handling equipment should | | | | 1 Series excess flow shut-off valve. This piece of |
| be kept clean, well maintained, and be made of | | | | gas handling equipment senses flow as a pressure |
| materials that are compatible with the gas used. | | | | drop across the preset internal orifice. When the |
| Routinely check hoses and attachments for leaks | | | | preset differential limit is reached, the valve closes |
| due to wear and make sure the equipment stays | | | | with a "snap action" for a tight seal. |
| clean. Loose hoses are a common cause of | | | | The Model 1 Series is a two position valve that is |
| accidents because the force of pressurized gas | | | | set by an easy-to-use manual knob. In position |
| can free them of their connection point. | | | | one, "Open (Reset)", the valve provides a direct |
| Specialized caps can be installed to protect | | | | passage from inlet to outlet. In the second |
| regulator valves during handling and to keep valve | | | | position, "Auto Shut Off", the valve senses the |
| outlets dust-free. | | | | flow and shuts off the passage if the preset flow |
| Common Causes of Gas Line Rupture: Corrosion | | | | limit is surpassed. The valve stays shut until it is |
| Corrosion can weaken compressed gas cylinders | | | | reset to pass a flow within the limit value. |
| and other devices over time, which is why it is | | | | Six flow ranges are available. The actual flow |
| particularly important that a gas is not used with | | | | shutoff for each range is dependent on the |
| equipment that is not meant for it. For example, | | | | operating pressure. It is suggested that the range |
| ammonia gas can mix with mercury to create an | | | | selected provide shutoff at six to ten times the |
| explosive reaction. If ammonia is run through a | | | | anticipated actual process flow rate to allow for |
| system with mercury pressure gauges, the result | | | | short term flow surges not connected with |
| could be catastrophic. Corrosive gases often wear | | | | catastrophic line failure. |
| metal down, so valve stems can become difficult | | | | Implementation of safety measures that take |
| to open. Workers can minimize the effect by | | | | these common oversights into consideration can |
| rotating the stem at least once a day and by | | | | minimize work delays, equipment damage, |
| properly flushing the regulator after use. Regular | | | | noncompliance costs, and human injuries. It's a |
| inspection helps workers to screen for equipment | | | | wise business move for a company to invest in |
| that may have been weakened by corrosion, | | | | preventative measures during the use of gas |
| leakage, pitting, dents or gouges. | | | | handling equipment. Gambling with workplace |
| Gas Line Rupture Hazards and How to Avoid | | | | safety is a risk that never pays. |
| Them | | | | This article is provided by Scott Specialty Gases. |
| Ruptured gas lines pose a major health threat to | | | | Scott Specialty Gases, a leading global |
| workers. Gas users and distributors must be | | | | manufacturer of specialty gases located in |
| aware of the dangers associated with | | | | Plumsteadville, PA. More information on the |
| compressed gases. The high pressure under which | | | | company can be found at |
| the gases are stored makes them potentially | | | | This article is copyrighted by Scott Gases. |
| explosive if mishandled. Asphyxiation can occur if | | | | |