AVANTIS

Procedure Name: Working Gas Cylinders Issue No: 1

Procedure Ref: AV-SWP-47 Date: 27th January 2020

1 27/01/2020 Gareth Haines Tom David Tom David Initial Issue

Issue Date Author Reviewed Approved Reason for Change
No

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AVANTIS

Procedure Name: Working Gas Cylinders Issue No: 1

Procedure Ref: AV-SWP-47 Date: 27th January 2020

POLICY
Avantis recognises that health and safety hazards may arise when individuals work with gases and will take all
steps to reduce risks to the lowest level reasonably practicable.

ARRANGEMENTS
Gas Cylinders present their own individual risk which is dependent upon the contents, so this procedure provides
general safety precautions to applied and/or considered when they are in use or in storage.

GENERAL RULES
• Cylinders should always be secured at their location. Some must be secured vertical at all times such as
Acetylene, but others such as Nitrogen may be laid secured horizontally. This is due to the configuration
of the cylinder and the nature of the gas contents
• Only keep sufficient cylinders at the worksite in-order to complete the immediate task. Spare cylinders
should be stored in a safe location
• It should be noted that spare Gas and Oxy cylinders should be stored separately with a distance of at least
5 meters between
• Cylinders should only be stored in well ventilated areas, and it should also be noted that some gases are
heavier than air and therefore should not be stored near excavations or below ground confined spaces
etc.
• In use cylinders should always be used in the correct configuration or arrangement with appropriate and
suitable hoses, regulators and fittings to the available pressure
• Never use a gas cylinder without the proper regulator for control of the gas and also the pressures to be
applied and the accuracy of gauges required
• When work ceases for the day, or for a substantial period, gases within hoses and associated equipment
are “burnt off” before disconnecting the torch from the hose and the hose from the bottles. Hoses are
then to be withdrawn to a safe and well ventilated area, i.e. open deck spaces or removed from the vessel
• Oxygen, and any other pressurised gas must never be used for ventilating or to sweeten a stale
atmosphere of a confined space, for blowing off clothing or PPE
• All leaks must be dealt with immediately by isolation and authorised repair. It should be noted that
Propane is heavier than air and has the stench of Fish and Acetylene is lighter than air and has the stench
of Garlic
• Hoses, wherever possible, must be raised from the floor using “S” Hooks or Cable Ties, as appropriate,
preventing damage to hoses and minimising the trip hazards. Care must also be taken when passing these
items through doors and hatches to prevent trapping
• Always leak check the configuration and depressurise before conducting any maintenance

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AVANTIS

Procedure Name: Working Gas Cylinders Issue No: 1

Procedure Ref: AV-SWP-47 Date: 27th January 2020

• Care must be taken to ensure no damage to fittings is caused by cross threading or improper attachment
i.e. left hand and right hand threads

RECORDS
Records will be kept of:

• risk assessments undertaken, safe systems of work, including permits to work where applicable.

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