COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDER SAFETY

Compressed gases containing oxygen, ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, chlorine and other fuel gases
are widely used throughout Saudi Aramco. However, because compressed gases are under high
pressure, they can be very dangerous. Mishandled cylinders can rupture violently, releasing their
hazardous contents, or become dangerous projectiles. A standard compressed gas cylinder, pressurized
to 2,500 psig, can become a rocket attaining a speed of over 48 km/h in a fraction of a second after
venting from a broken cylinder valve.

UNDERSTAND THE DANGER

The best way to understand the dangers involved with the use of compressed gas cylinders and the
required safety precautions is to refer to the relevant material safety data sheet (MSDS), the chemical
hazard bulletin (CHB) and the identification label on the cylinder itself. For the relevant minimum safety
rules, refer to the Saudi Aramco Safety Handbook, page 29

SAFE HANDLING

Secure protective caps on all cylinders not in use.

• Properly secure cylinders in an upright position during movement.

• Never lift a cylinder by its valve.

• Do not use slings or ropes for moving cylinders. Use cylinder trolleys, material baskets, cylinder racks
and other proper types of equipment to transport cylinders.

• Make sure that all cylinders are properly labeled. Only rely on the supplier’s tag to determine the
contents of a compressed cylinder and not the color of the cylinder.

• Do not strike cylinders together.

• Keep valves of empty cylinders closed at all times

SAFE USE

Always close the cylinder valve before attempting to stop leaks.

• Do not use oil or grease as a lubricant on valves or attachments.

• Make sure that threads on fittings correspond to the cylinder valve outlets.

• Inspect each cylinder for damage, severe corrosion, valve leakage and current hydro test date prior to
each use.

• Protect cylinders from direct flame, sunlight and other heat sources.
• Use cylinders only in ventilated areas. When opening the valve, stand to the side and open by hand —
not with a tool. Valves should not be opened more than 1 ½ turns.

• Place flashback arrestors at oxygen/acetylene cylinder regulators.

• Never place cylinders in confined spaces or adjacent to excavations

SAFE STORAGE

Store cylinders in an upright, secure position, using bottle/cylinder racks, if possible

• Keep oxygen cylinders separated from fuel gas cylinders by a distance of 6.1 m or with a half-hour fire
rated barrier of at least 1.5 m high.

• Store cylinders away from direct flame, sunlight and other heat sources; do not store cylinders at
temperatures exceeding 54 °C.

• When a cylinder is empty, close the valve to prevent air and moisture from entering the tank, remove
the regulator, replace the cylinder cap and label the tank “empty.” Properly identify empty and full
cylinders.

• Make sure that water and dry chemical fire extinguishers are immediately available within 15 m of
cylinder storage area.

REMEMBER TO USE CAUTION WHEN HANDLING COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS.

BE PROACTIVE IN SAFETY

Looking for potential hazards and eliminating or mitigating them before they cause injuries is critical to
creating a proactive safety environment. This cannot be achieved without your active involvement.
Everyone has a role to play in creating an environment where all injuries are preventable

ACQUIRE THE RIGHT SAFETY ATTITUDE

Your attitude plays a significant role in workplace incidents. Below are some of the most common
mindsets and practices that can lead to incidents:

The carefree attitude — “It can never happen to me.

” • The repetitive mindset — “This is the way I’ve done it for 20 years, why change now.”

• Failing or refusing to follow safe work practices.

• Failing or refusing to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Lack of knowledge or proper training.

REVIEW PAST INCIDENTS

Take a look at reports of a few past incidents that took place in your work area. This exercise is not to
point fingers at anyone; it helps reveal unsafe attitudes that could have led to these incidents. A
proactive safety culture does not focus on who is to blame, but rather seeks facts to prevent incident
recurrence and injuries. You and your coworkers can help prevent future incidents and injuries by
determining what sort of corrective actions could have prevented the incidents.

REPORT INCIDENTS AND NEAR MISSES

Don’t be reluctant to report incidents and near misses. Failing to receive these reports breaks down the
communication channels. When incidents and near misses are not reported, they cannot be properly
analyzed and their root causes revealed. When root causes remain hidden, appropriate and timely
corrective actions cannot be taken, which can lead to future similar incidents or even more serious
incidents

DEVELOP A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP

Help develop a sense of ownership for your workplace — a critical part of a proactive safety culture —
by following these ideas:

Organize work tasks to provide a more satisfying environment for everyone.

• Perform tasks that provide a unique contribution to the workplace.

• Take pride in the tasks that you and your coworkers are involved in and your contributions to the
company’s production objectives.

• Encourage increased safety accountability for you and your coworkers.

• Provide timely feedback on corrective safety actions.

• Encourage open communication with your coworkers to discuss safety concerns and corrective
actions. Take advantage of the company’s self-development programs; take online safety courses to
enhance your safety knowledge.

When you and your coworkers are involved in the safety process, a stronger, proactive safety
environment is the end result.