Gas Safety In Laboratories

SAFETY MEASURES

• Trained persons must work with gas cylinders. Train all new personnel in safe handling of gas cylinders before using them.
• Workers must follow safety instructions to avoid any injury and damage.
• Do not smoke in the lab, it can lead to an explosion.

IDENTIFICATION

• Mention the contents of the gas on the cylinders.
• One must not rely on the color of the gas cylinder alone for its identification, because it may differ across the suppliers.

HANDLING OF GAS CYLINDERS

• Use gas cylinders in working fume hoods.
• To open a gas cylinder, use tools or wrenches provided by the supplier. Other tools may destroy the valve of the cylinder.
• Do not use oil for the lubrication of valves because it can cause an explosion.
• Use valve protectors to protect valves of gas cylinders.
• Do not use the valve of a cylinder to lift or move the cylinder, it may get damaged.
• Open the cylinder valves slowly and with great care.
• Never leave the valve open when not in use, it causes accumulation of moisture in the cylinder.
• Never heat a gas cylinder to increase its pressure.
• There should be no pressure on the regulator when it is not in use.
• Attach regulators to the gas cylinders, especially for compressed gas cylinders.
• Use valve instead of a regulator for turning gas on and off.
• Handle even the empty cylinders with care.

SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS)

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) should be available for information relating to uses and toxicity.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• Fire extinguisher equipment must be readily available in laboratories. And all the workers of the laboratory must know the placement of extinguishers & how to use it in case of any emergency.

STORAGE OF GAS CYLINDERS

• Ventilate the storage site of gas cylinders & keep the site dry and cool.
• Do not store gas cylinders in direct sunlight.
• Do not store cylinders in places where heavy objects may strike with the cylinders and explode.
• Store the gas cylinders away from electrical circuits, fire, and sparks.
• Do not store the gas cylinders in public hallways and other unprotected areas.

LEAKAGE IN CYLINDERS

• Do not use soapy water to detect any leakage in a cylinder.
• On observing a leakage, immediately contact the supplier.

GAS GENERATORS

• Where possible use gas generators instead of gas cylinders, as generators only generates the required amount of gas.
• Generators also provide a constant supply of gas to labs and convenient to use, as it does not carry large volumes of gas.

FUME HOODS

• Use fume hoods when working, as fume hood exhaust the excess and harmful gases exhaust outside the laboratory.
• With fume hoods, gases do not accumulate in the lab, which otherwise is dangerous for the health of lab workers.

Finally, whether you are constructing a new plan or renovating an existing one, plan gas safety from the lab design phase.