Standard Operating Procedure for Gas Cylinder Storage, Use and Transport

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Standard Operating Procedure for Gas Cylinder Storage, Use and Transport Effective date: 23.07.2018 Review due date: 23.07.2020 Original Author Name: Andreas Wallbaum Date: 01.10.

1 Standard Operating Procedure for Gas Cylinder Storage, Use and Transport Effective date: Review due date: Original Author Name: Andreas Wallbaum Date: Newest Reviewer Name: Mark Thomas Position: Senior Lab Technician Position: Physiology Lab Technician Signature: Date: Approved by Name: Dr Lisa Austin Position: DfH Research Manager Signature: Date: Amendment Chronology Version Amendment date Reason for amendment Reviewed/Amended by number First issue Andreas Wallbaum Reviewed, no amends Emily Wood Reviewed, no amends Pippa Heath Minor changes to Risk Assessments References to UBSA replaced by 6WS. Mark Thomas Mark Thomas

Gas cylinder storage, use and transport Safety Information: Lifting heavy objects is a major cause of industrial accidents. Gas cylinders are only to be transported by staff and postgraduate students.

Use a trolley to transport gas cylinders over distance. If a bottle needs to be moved just a few meters then it can be churned on its end to the desired location.

2 Gas cylinder storage, use and transport Safety Information: Lifting heavy objects is a major cause of industrial accidents. Gas cylinders are only to be transported by staff and postgraduate students. Gas cylinders MUST be handled with extreme care. Never leave gas cylinders standing upright unfastened to a solid structure. Never use gas cylinders to prop open doors. Use a trolley to transport gas cylinders over distance. If a bottle needs to be moved just a few meters then it can be churned on its end to the desired location. Refer to the Safe Handling of Heavy Objects section at the end of this SOP. If you think the cylinder will be too heavy for you to lift, churn or tilt; then seek help from a second person. Please ensure you have read the following risk assessment: gas_cylinder_storage_use_and_transport Gas cylinders may also be referred to as cylinders or bottles. Storage: Gas cylinders must be stored in an upright position and secured so that they cannot fall over. Ensure that they are secured to a suitable wall or bench mount bracket or contained in a bottle stall and chained or strapped appropriately. For 6WS and East labs, ensure the cylinders fit appropriately in the trolley holes, and are sufficiently secured right down to the bottom (see pictures). Ensure cylinders are secure in the trolley and are not going to wobble or tip over. Make sure the cylinders fit snug all the way to the bottom holes in the trolley.

3 For long term storage; seek allowance and advice from the Chemistry supervising technician (Martin White) in 1 South. They have a cylinder storage facility there. Store empty and full gas cylinders apart from one another and rotate stocks of cylinders, so that older cylinders are used first. Swapping cylinders over: NB: Never leave gas cylinders to become completely empty unless they are finished and ready for collection. Procedure: 1. Calibrate the gas analyser from the old gas cylinders, making sure it is calibrated exactly. 2. Make sure there is no pressure in the regulator and that the tap valve on the cylinder is fully off. Unscrew the regulator and change over to the new cylinder. 3. Run the new gas through the gas analyser and check the readings. Check that they are within the limits that are written on the cylinder. N.B. gas concentrations may differ from cylinder to cylinder. 4. If the readings are within the limits then recalibrate the gas analyser and use as normal. Transporting cylinders: Procedure: 1. Ensure that the gas supply is closed off and remove the regulator. 2. Check the gas cylinder for any noticeable dents or damage prior to transport. 3. Using a gas bottle trolley (available from the 6WS lab or 1WN lab); Get the trolley as close as possible to the cylinder and churn the bottle carefully onto its base. If necessary have a second person move the trolley until it is underneath the cylinder s base). Secure the chains on the trolley around the gas cylinder to secure it. 4. You can now wheel the trolley to its desired location using lifts and ramps wherever possible. If you have to go down stairs then proceed with care and caution and have a 2 nd person help you if required. 5. Remove the gas cylinder from the transport trolley by;

4 Undoing the security chain and tilting the gas cylinder off the base. If someone else is available, then you might ask them to move the transport trolley away whilst you hold onto the cylinder. Continue to churn the cylinder into its desired place and secure to fixing bracket with chain or strap. The same procedure should be followed for cylinder changeovers using the custom trolleys in 6WS and East labs. Extra care should be taken when lifting the cylinders above the height of the trolley to feed down through the holes. Ensure the cylinders are secure and fit right down to the holes at the bottom of the trolley. With lifting the cylinders please follow the safety advice below regarding manual handling: General safe handling of heavy objects There are occasions when people may be required to lift heavy objects. This type of handling is a major cause of many personal injuries and industrial accidents and must therefore be addressed correctly. When the load is considered to be very heavy, it is suggested that a trial lift of only a few centimetres is made to ascertain whether one person may be able to do it. If the object is too heavy for one person then get a 2 nd or more persons to help. Consider using a trolley or truck to transport heavy items over distance using lifts and ramps wherever possible. There is a correct method to lift awkward and heavy items so as to minimise the risk of injury. 1. Check that the area through which the load is to be moved is clean and tidy. Make sure that shoes have good grip and (ideally) are fitted with protective toecaps. Wear appropriate clothing that will not become entangled with the load during the lift. Wear gloves to protect hands from nails, splinters etc. 2. Stand close to the load with feet about 18 inches apart and bend the knees as necessary to grip the load if it is low down, keeping the back straight. 3. Lift by straightening the legs. Do not lift above chest height.

5 4. Keep the load close to the body throughout transit. Avoid twisting the body by moving the feet when changing direction. 5. To lower the load, bend the knees and again keep the back straight. For the movement of large, heavy equipment, a four-sided trolley with pneumatic tyres is available from the Applied Biomechanics Suite. Arrangements for the loan of this trolley can be made through their senior technician (Andreas Wallbaum). If the handling involves twisting while holding the load, repetitive lifting, or lowering or carrying over a long distance, then the risk of injury increases and hence a risk assessment will be required. Manual handling risk assessment templates and guides are available on the X drive, namely: X:\Health\Resources\Health and Safety\Admin\Forms and Templates End of Document

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