From: Dan Kuespert <dkuespert**At_Symbol_Here**JHU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] what to do - gas cylinder safety
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:27:34 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 703B9CFB-6C53-4994-9E93-F72F153A79C0**At_Symbol_Here**jhu.edu
In-Reply-To <344456820.4914127.1430117369649.JavaMail.yahoo**At_Symbol_Here**mail.yahoo.com>


Thanks for the links. 


That brings up a related question for me: under what conditions is a cylinder cart considered stable enough for cylinder *use* as opposed to cylinder transport? I’ve seen some references to it being OK to mount regulators on cylinders if the cylinder is on a cart designed for the purpose—presumably one of the really heavy ones used for welding sets. 

I occasionally come across people trying to use cylinders with the cylinder held at an angle on a kickstand-type cylinder cart, which does not make me happy. Even if it’s one of the carts with four wheels as opposed to the kind with a single kick-out wheel, they’re not as stable as a fixed tie-up and typically the user tries to set it up in a walkway where it could be tripped across. (Double jeopardy—trip and knock your head on the edge of the bench, plus break the regulator off the cylinder and make everyone else’s day exciting.)

I have never seen a cart specification that specifically says it’s OK for cylinder use as opposed to cylinder transport, with the exception of the welding carts, which people typically use out in construction zones where there’s nothing to tie up to. Is anyone aware of general-purpose carts approved for this use?

regards,
dan

=============================
Dr. Daniel R. Kuespert
Homewood Laboratory Safety Advocate
Krieger School of Arts & Sciences/Whiting School of Engineering
The Johns Hopkins University
103G Shaffer Hall
3400 North Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-5525

On Apr 27, 2015, at 2:49 AM, Todd <dafydd3r**At_Symbol_Here**YAHOO.COM> wrote:

Here are some examples of the *styles* of carts that my folks use on a day to day basis. Let me tell you, we get some serious mileage on some of these carts, moving tens or hundreds of cylinders a day at our larger fill plants.
 
One note - Cylinder carts are not general purpose carts for moving boxes and such and vice-versa. They are specialized to be the right tool for the task.
 
These are only a few examples of cylinder carts that I would be comfortable using, there are plenty of others. Our website has dozens of pages of carts and accessories; there are carts that are more expensive than these, and some less expensive. There are heavier duty carts, and lighter duty (some of the heavy duty carts can be *really* heavy, while some light duty carts may not be sturdy enough). 
 
I'm a safety professional and a chemist, not a salesman, so I'll be honest that there are many other vendors to choose from out there, other than Airgas. I would ask that anyone pricing carts for your facility, please contact your local Airgas branch to see what pricing we can offer. Aside from being the largest US owned gas manufacturer/distributor, we are also one of the largest US suppliers of safety products, so you may be able to get a better price buying gas, equipment, and safety supplies all in one spot. 
If you already have an Airgas account and a contract/pricing agreement, you may already be able to get a better price on many of these. To those who are Airgas customers: Thank You!
 
The big consideration here is to get the right tool for the job so that your people can be safe, meet regulatory requirements, and have everyone go home at the day's end without pain or injury.
 
 
Single Cylinder cart for general use:
 
Single Cylinder cart with back wheel assembly (best for use on paved surface, not all-terrain):
 
 
Two Cylinder cart:
 
Two Cylinder cart with back wheel assembly (best for use on paved surface, not all-terrain):
 
 
Liquid Cylinder cart:
 
 
Oxygen/Acetylene welding cart with firewall and lifting ring:
Note: These are big on construction sites where the ring can be used to lift by crane/hoist and the firewall provides better protection and compliance, both when in use or in storage.
  
Thanks,
 
Todd Perkins
Safety Director
Airgas USA, LLC
 

From: NEAL LANGERMAN <neal**At_Symbol_Here**CHEMICAL-SAFETY.COM>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU 
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 12:37 PM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] what to do - gas cylinder safety

The lively discussion was part of the purpose
Can you provide a link to the gas cart you describe?
 
 
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ACSafety has a new address:
NEAL LANGERMAN, Ph.D.
ADVANCED CHEMICAL SAFETY, Inc.
PO Box 152329
SAN DIEGO CA 92195
011(619) 990-4908 (phone, 24/7)
 
We no longer support FAX.
 
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From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Todd Perkins
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 9:15 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] what to do - gas cylinder safety
 
Dear Mr Advocate,   (aka Neal)  :)
 
A cylinder cart - a good one with all terrain tires, a cylinder securement chain, etc NOT a flimsy one with thin, hard, plastic tires - will make all the difference for traversing hazards such as uneven ground, curbs, etc. It would allow the operator control of speed, course, and direction, and if the cylinder were chained or strapped to another object (e.g. a tree), the wheels would add additional stability to keep the cylinder upright - three points of contact forming a stable base.
 
You will have a difficult time convincing me that there are common circumstances where a cylinder should not be moved across a surface with a proper cart, but it makes for a lively discussion!
 
Sincerely,
 
Safe in St. Louis
 
(Todd Perkins
Regional Safety Director
Aurgas USA, LLC)

From: NEAL LANGERMAN <neal**At_Symbol_Here**CHEMICAL-SAFETY.COM>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU 
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] what to do - gas cylinder safety
 
I will continue to play devil’s advocate …
 
Consider what we do not know about the work site 
            Would a cart increase the mass control hazards because of terrain?
            What additional security or hazard reduction would you get by placing cylinders on a cart and chaining cart to a solid object, eg a tree?
 
Opinion
Keep an open mind and look for ways to reduce operational risk while keeping the work task reasonable … and acceptable to the workers
 
Interesting case for this group to look at … many of us forget there is a world outside our labs; no criticism, just a reality of our intense work worlds
 
Stay safe out there!
 
nl
 
 
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ACSafety has a new address:
NEAL LANGERMAN, Ph.D.
ADVANCED CHEMICAL SAFETY, Inc.
PO Box 152329
SAN DIEGO CA 92195
011(619) 990-4908 (phone, 24/7)
 
We no longer support FAX.
 
 Please contact me before sending any packages or courier delivery.  The address for those items is:
5340 Caminito Cachorro
San Diego CA 92105
 
 
 
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Eric Clark
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2015 7:58 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] what to do - gas cylinder safety
 
Good question.  
This is the compressed version of the answer:  
  
Document Name: CGA P- 1 : Safe Handling of Compressed Gases 
CFR Section(s) : 29 CFR 1 9 1 0. 1 1 (b) 
Standards Body: Compressed Gas Association 
  
3.2.6 
 
Use suitable hand truck, fork truck, roll platform or similar device with cylinder firmly secured for transporting 
and unloading. 
 
 
 
Eric Clark, MS, CHMM, CCHO 
Safety Officer, Public Health Scientist III 
Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory 
 
 
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of NEAL LANGERMAN
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 2:23 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] what to do - gas cylinder safety
 
Why is it ill advised?
 
Nitrogen is used to purge and dry some conduit
 
 
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The information contained in this message is privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. 
 
ACSafety has a new address:
NEAL LANGERMAN, Ph.D.
ADVANCED CHEMICAL SAFETY, Inc.
PO Box 152329
SAN DIEGO CA 92195
011(619) 990-4908 (phone, 24/7)
 
We no longer support FAX.
 
 Please contact me before sending any packages or courier delivery.  The address for those items is:
5340 Caminito Cachorro
San Diego CA 92105
 
 
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Debbie M. Decker
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 10:43 AM
To: 
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] what to do - gas cylinder safety
 
I was in New York City, recently, and came across two liquid nitrogen dewars on a street corner.  One had a regulator on it and tubing running into a manhole in the street.  I think the dewars had been there awhile as one had been tagged with graffiti.  No one in sight that might have anything to do with the dewars.
 
Gas cylinders get “managed” in creative ways, it would seem.  I guess chaining to a tree satisfies the “prevent from falling” requirement.  Rolling along the pavement – ill-advised, certainly.  I wonder what they were using the nitrogen for.
 
 
Debbie M. Decker, CCHO, ACS Fellow
Chair, Division of Chemical Health and Safety
University of California, Davis
(530)754-7964
(530)304-6728
 
Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction 
that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions, 
can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."
 
 
On Tue, Apr 21, 2015 at 5:41 PM, Leslie Coop <lcoop**At_Symbol_Here**willamette.edu> wrote:
A company doing work on campus chained thee nitrogen compressed gas cylinders to a tree in front of a dormitory. And left them there, for several days. Two were capped, but one of them had a regulator attached, with tubing going into a hole in the ground.
 
One day, two of this company's employees were seen removing one of the cylinders from the tree (one with a cap). They lay in cylinder on its side on the ground, rolled it with their feet to the curb, then rolled it off the curb and into the street to their truck. There, they picked it up by hand and manually lifted it into their truck.
 
Comments?

-- 
Leslie Coop, MS, CCHO, CHMM
Chemical Hygiene Officer/ Stockroom Manager
Willamette University - 900 State Str - Salem, Oregon 97301
 
 
 


both

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