Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Del1  
#1 Posted : 11 September 2019 14:57:32(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Del1

Hi all,

I have a multitude of gas cylinders at my site of varying gases and ppm's.

Using hsg53 I have calculated the APF for an accidential release to the face/breathing zone for each cylinder if there was equipment failure/operator error.

The outcomes of these calculations seem very extreme on BA for such a potentially brief exposure; are there other calculations I can use/guidance available that do not conflict with hsg53?

I have tried the RPE Selector Tool at the Healthy Working Lives website but this rejects my assessment when I state that a 'sudden release' is possible...

Thanks in advance.

descarte8  
#2 Posted : 13 September 2019 13:33:38(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
descarte8

As no one has answered this yet, here's my 2 cents.

3 main factors seem to affect this issue, the likelihood of such a release occuring, the environment which it occurs in and the consequences of such an exposure.

In order;

Is this likely to occur, has this ever occured, what could be done to prevent this from occuring?  Relying on RPE seems to be impracticable everytime you touch a gas cylinder - I doubt this is common practice. 

Is this outside in a well ventilated area, generally in my experience this (or laboratory or large workshops) are where most cylinders are stored.  If not can any higher risk tasks, valve / regulator changing be done in a safer area.  If outside & well ventilated, is there likely to be still a significant risk due to the immediate dilution or ability to move quickly away from any exposure.

Whilst nealry any gas, at any concentration if accidentally released directly into the breathing zone could have the ability to cause harm, if only by the displacement of Oxygen, some gases would of course be more harmful than others, are the gases you use inert or highly toxic?

Perhaps a step back would be to determine if HSG 53 is appropriate in the first place, though a sudden release is "possible", is it feasibly possible if you can have safe systems of work, procedures, training and supervision.  In my experience, I have never seen anyone using RPE when handling cylinders with 1 exception, I believe hooking methyl mercaptan cyclinders up to natural gas lines they used BA. 

Perhaps if you can share the job, the task (connecting / disconnecting?), the environment, the gases in question, someone in a similar position might be better able to share their experience than I.

Des

fiesta  
#3 Posted : 13 September 2019 14:11:26(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
fiesta

I agree with the previous post. In construction there are often gas cylinders on site (Propane / Butane / Refridgeration gases etc.) and operatives don't wear PPE while handling. As mentioned above while leaks / releases are possible, various control measures should be implemented to ensure SFARP that they don't.

The HSE has a guidance Docuemnt INDG308 that might help.

Andy

Del1  
#4 Posted : 16 September 2019 07:34:38(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
Del1

Thanks everyone; in answer to the questions;

Yes these are highly toxic gases.

These are used within a large laboratory and so the connections must be made when the cylinder is delivered to the lab from the external holding cages.

We have had a few instances in the past whereby through operator error (even though trained regularly) they have turned on a cylinder into their face before fully connecting the regulator etc. (luckily these were only air and nitrogen cylinders).

Users browsing this topic
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.