Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By Lance Morgan
Please can anyone advise on where I can obtain some sort of safety rack for the transportation of small oxygen cylinders in district nurse/community midwive's cars.
Has anybody working inside (or outside the healthcare sector got a solution for safe carriage which meets the expectations of staff who have to carry this equipment.
Thanks in anticipation
Lance
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Bryn Maidment
Lance
Try BOC, they used to flog a carrier for the small sized cylinders (carried 1 or 2). Some of Comm. Midwives here still use them. Looks like a domestic milk bottle holder but larger, and the bottles lay on their side. Stops them rolling around the car and is easy to carry.
Regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Lance Morgan
Thanks Bryn
I have tried BOC and related suppliers with no luck.
What happens in other NHS trust's?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By John Webster
Same problem, I'm afraid.
They rattle about in the boot. Some have a padded bag, which helps, and all are instructed to ensure that main valves are turned off, and no oil, grease and especially no cans of fuel are carried.
One difficulty for attaching any form of securing clamp, box or strap is that most community staff use their own cars.
Any solution would also be gratefully received here.
John
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jim Sweetman
Lance,
Unfortunately I don't have a background in community health care, but I do a lot of SCUBA diving. Having a compressed air tank 'rolling' about in the back of my car is not an unusual situation.
The problem is something that I am cautious about, so I consider two options:
1) Pack the cylinder with the remainder of my gear (and anything else) so it stays put, or
2) Connect the cylinder to my SCUBA equipment so it has a solid frame on it which will stop any rolling.
Bearing these thoughts in mind, if your nurses carry more than one cylinder, they can be strapped together - that will prevent rolling, and some form of anti-slip mat/surface underneath will prevent sliding.
If only single cylinders are carried, maybe someone could patent a simple device such as a board with straps(or other securing method)fitted to stop the cylinder rolling, and an anti-slip surface beneath to stop sliding.
Hope these thoughts prove useful.
Jim
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jay Joshi Lance, The British Compressed Gases Association has published generic guidance for "Carriage of Gas Cylinders in Cars, Vans, and other Vehicles-Guidance for Drivers at Work" on the basis of 1996 Carriage Regulations. This guidance can be accesed freely on their website:- http://www.bcga.co.uk/publications/carriage.pdf
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Martin Gray
Most modern cars have a tie down clip in the boots of vehicles. They can be located under the carpet in the boot. A short ratchet strap can be used to secure these cylinders in the boot.
The green warning triangle could then be stuck on the boot lid on the side the cylinder is located.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By John Webster
Martin
You have raised another query. It is my understanding that the small size cylinders (oxygen and entonox) which are transported in car boots are exempt under the relevant transport regulations, as they are under 10 litres in capacity and contain less than 10kg of material.
Therefore the warning triangle is not required. Though not a problem here, many community nurses and doctors do not want their cars identified by such things as they attract people with crowbars looking for drugs and syringes.
Could anybody please clarify whether or not my interpretation of the regs is correct.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Martin Gray
John,
You are correct it is not a legal requirement to display the green diamond but it would be good practice to put on a magnetic one when transporting these cylinders.
When officers attend an road traffic collision or vehicle on fire they do not know what is carried but have to respond to the casualty. If the casualty is unconscious they will not know of the dangers of a cylinder, the same applies when the vehicle is collected by a recovery agent the will not find the cylinder until they take the vehicle back to their depot.
For the safety of police, fire and ambulance staff the price of the magnetic diamond is not to expensive and could be considered good practice, we do in this force practice what we preach.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By John Webster
Thanks, Martin.
I had originally recommended warning triangles for the reasons you state, but had to take heed of the security objections in the absence of a legal requirement. However, I had never thought of magnetic signs - good idea.
Must admit, we had not considered the implications were a vehicle to be reposessed though I doubt if this will figure high up in the risk assessment. It might be more of a problem getting the magnetic stickers to work on a Reliant Robin though!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.