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Posted By Terry Reading
Hi all,
Our engineering department has taken on some work which will require the occaisional use of a small welding tool. I confess that as we are not an 'industrial' premises the use of such equipment is new to me. Whilst I have checked out the safety requirements for the use of this kit I am not so clear on the transporting of the gas cylinders and was hoping someone out there would be more up to speed on the rules.
If my research is correct, the transport from our warehouse to where the kit is to be used in our transit van falls well under the threshold of a '1000 points' as per the BCGA guidance (its only 1 x Argon, 1 x Oxygen, 2 x Propane cylinders). The cylinders will be secured and the drivers aware of the nature of the hazard and there is already a fire extinguisher on the van.
My questions are; Do we need to do anything else? Is a warning label on the van compulsory or just advisory? Or am I completely wrong and we need to do much more?
Advice from more knowledgeable collegues would be appreciated. Thanks.
T.
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Posted By Mike Palfrey
Terry
If you are only transporting the small quantity of cylinders you indicate, then your take on the 1000 points rule is correct.
The driver needs to know the hazards of the goods, they must be secured, ensure adequate ventilation, no smoking with the propane on board, etc. Always transport Propane upright and please check the cylinder valves are closed.
If you are less than 1000 points then a rake of the ADR Regs will not apply. One of which is the need to placard the vehicle with an orange plate to identify it as carrying dangerous goods. This is the only vehicle marking that is required by law. The use of the red and green diamonds do not figure in the Regs and are just a "nice idea".
If you do want to mark up your van, then remember to remove them when there is no gas on board.
Hope this helps
Regards
Mike
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Posted By Terry Reading
Thanks Mike. Much appreciated.
T.
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Posted By Martin Gray
Terry
From an emergency services point of view we would like to know if the vehicle we are approaching following an RTC has gas cylinders in it especially if there is a chance that the vehicle may catch fire.
The warning dimonds for flammable and gas cylinders are a good indication for us from a distance.
Martin
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Posted By Terry Reading
Martin
Thx. I agree, this is worth doing even if not legally required and I will incorporate this into our procedures.
T.
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Posted By Martin Gray
Terry
I know that this is not a legal requirement but the point I was trying to make was as part of your risk assessment and control measures it would be good practice to place such markers on a vehicle to assist others who may need to come to the attention of your drivers through unfortunate circumstances i.e. an RTC.
With more and more cylinders being carried in vehicles including cars, when one of them catches fire on the motorway the resultant explosion from the tyres and fuel tanks are bad enough but if the emergency services are aware that gas cyclinders are present in the vehicle then the carriageway can be closed to prevent a bigger problem before it happens.
I would encourage any member of this forum who has fleets of vehicles carrying gas cylinders to place hazard diamonds on the rear of the vehicles as a mark of good practice and give the emergency services a chance of knowing what they are about to face.
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