Saudi Aramco

Marine Department
September 2006
Marine Safety Flyer #7
CO2 Cylinder Incident at West Pier

On September 6th, 2006 Marine Maintenance MRU Shop personnel were weighing CO 2
Cylinders. One cylinder was found to be below weight with a slight leak from the valve.
The defective cylinder was loaded onto a vehicle in preparation for a return to the
vendor.
Without warning the leak on the cylinder increased and the cylinder propelled itself from
the vehicle crashing at high speed into the floor and wall of the MRU shop.
Unfortunately one Contractor employee suffered an injury to his hand.
The investigation into this Incident highlighted a need to remind all personnel on the
handling and storing of any cylinder under pressure. The recommended methods are as
follows:
Handling Cylinders
Secure protective caps on all cylinders not in use
Properly secure cylinders in an upright position during movement
Do not use slings or ropes in movement
Properly label cylinder contents
Do not rely on color of the cylinder
Do not strike cylinders together
Keep valves on empty cylinders closed at all times
Use cylinder trolleys, material baskets, cylinder racks and other proper types
of equipment to transport cylinders.

Storing Cylinders
Store cylinders in an upright, secured position; use bottle/cylinder racks
wherever possible
Keep stored O2 cylinders separated from fuel gas cylinders by 6.6m (20ft) or
by a 1.5m (5ft) high noncombustible barrier
Keep cylinders from direct flame, sunlight and other heat sources.
Do not store cylinders at temperatures exceeding 54C (130F)
Properly identify empty and full cylinders

TAKE CARE WHEN HANDLING ANY PRESSURE VESSEL

ABDULLA I. AL-KUBAISY
Manager (A), Marine Department
cc: All Marine Department Employees & Contractors
Safety Flyer file