#techtuesday Handling, Storing and Transportation of CO² Cylinders

Handling, Storing & Transporting of CO² Cylinders

HANDLING -
Evergreen Midwest Co. recommends that anyone handling CO² cylinders should be aware of the hazards associated with CO² and be trained in safe practices of handling CO² cylinders. All practices of handling CO² cylinders ought to include or reference information from CGA pamphlets G-6;  Carbon Dioxide and G-6.3; Carbon Dioxide Cylinder Filling and Handling Procedures.

Evergreen has compiled  the following list of items that should be included in any safe handling practice of CO² cylinders.

1. Only trained personnel should handle CO² cylinders. Trained personnel should be aware of the hazards associated with CO². CO² discharged from a cylinder is extremely cold and can cause injury if it comes into contact with personnel.
2. CO² cylinders should only be handled with care. Never drag or drop cylinders.
3. Never attempt to handle a leaking CO² cylinder.
4. CO² cylinder should never be handled in areas of extreme heat (125°F or greater).
5. The valve should always be  closed when handling a cylinder.
6. If a cylinder is fitted with a valve cap,  always verify the cap is secure before handling.
7. If a cylinder is fitted with  a carrying handle, always verify the carrying handle is secure and not broken  before handling. Never handle a cylinder by a broken carrying handle.
8. Be aware that cylinders  that have been in service may have sharp edges from previous rough handling.  Visually inspect the cylinder for sharp edges prior to handling  the cylinder with your hands.
9. When lifting a cylinder, use  proper lifting techniques.
10. When handling a cylinder with  equipment, make sure the equipment does not scar or damage the cylinder or valve.
11. When using a cart to handle cylinders, always secure the cylinder to the cart.
12. After handling a cylinder, always  transport and/or store the cylinder in accordance with good safe transporting and/or storing practices.

Including the above items in all  practices for handling CO² cylinders should enhance the safety of all  personnel, equipment and property.

STORING -
CO² cylinders should always be stored in a specified area. The storage area should:

1. Be well ventilated. CO² gas in small concentrations, as little as 15%, can cause unconsciousness in less than one minute.
2. Be selected away from the edge of  any elevated areas. Cylinders falling from elevated areas can cause damage to  the cylinder, valve or property or injury to personnel.
3. Be selected away from, or protected from,  areas of high traffic. Areas of high traffic only increase the chance of an accident occurring.
4. Be dry and free of a corrosive atmosphere.
5. Have adequate means to secure all  cylinders stored in the area. The means of securing should be sufficient to hold  the cylinders in place, yet not cause damage to the cylinders.
6. Be a continuously cool place. Do not store  cylinders adjacent to any source of heat, intermittent or continuous. Safety relief devices of CO² cylinders are designed to operate when the  pressure of the cylinder exceeds 2800 - 3000 psi (depending on the design of  the safety relief device). A properly charged CO² cylinder could vent through it’s safety  relief device at approximately 150°F (65.6°C). A slightly overfilled CO² cylinder could vent through its safety relief device when exposed to  a much lower temperature. The CGA recommends that CO² cylinders be stored in areas with a temperature less than 125°F (51.7°C).
7. Never store a charged CO² cylinder in a passenger vehicle or in the cab portion of any vehicle.
8. Empty CO² cylinders should be stored with the valve tightly closed.
9. Cylinders can be stored standing on  their base or lying on their side. Evergreen recommends that the cylinders  be stored as designed, standing on their flat base.
10. Cylinders should not be stored where they might become part of an electrical circuit.
11. Cylinders, which have been manufactured  to accommodate a valve protective carrying handle or a protective cap,  should be stored with these accessories in place.

Including the above items in all practices for storing CO² cylinders should enhance the safety of all personnel, equipment and property.

TRANSPORTING - 
All practices of transporting CO² cylinders must be in compliance with and ought to include or reference information from 49 CFR 173.302; General Requirements  For Shipment of Compressed Gases in Cylinders and Spherical Pressure Vessels,  49 CFR 173.304; Charging of Cylinders With Liquefied Compressed Gas, and  CGA pamphlet G-6.3; Carbon Dioxide Cylinder Filling and Handling Procedures. Evergreen  has compiled the following list of items that should be included in all safe practices of transporting CO² cylinders.

1. Never transport a filled CO² cylinder in a passenger vehicle.
2. Cylinders should never be transported in an  enclosed vehicle unless the driver is separated from the cargo by a gas tight barrier.
3. Cylinders should be transported in a  continuously cool place. Do not transport cylinders adjacent to any source of heat,  intermittent or continuous. Safety relief devices of CO² cylinders are designed to  operate when the pressure of the cylinder exceeds 2800 - 3000 psi (depending on the  design of the safety relief device). A properly charged CO² cylinder could vent through its safety  relief device at approximately 150°F (65.6°C). A slightly overfilled CO² cylinder could vent through its safety relief  device when exposed to a much lower temperature. The CGA recommends that CO² cylinders be stored in areas with a temperature less than 125°F (51.7°C).
4. Do not transport a leaking cylinder.
5. Damaged cylinders should only be transported without fill and marked “DAMAGED”.
6. Empty CO² cylinders should be transported with their valves tightly closed.
7. Cylinders, which have been manufactured  to accommodate a carrying handle or a protective cap, should be transported  with these accessories in place. Do not transport cylinders with broken carrying handles.
8. Cylinders can be transported standing  on their base or lying on their side. Evergreen recommends that the cylinders  be transported as designed, standing on their flat base. The CGA recommends  that cylinders that are shipped never be stacked on top of each other.
9. All cylinders, after being loaded for transit,  when in transit, and when waiting for unloading after transit should be  secured by adequate means to protect the cylinders. The means of securing should be  sufficient to hold the cylinders in place, yet not cause damage to the cylinders. 
10. If a cylinder is determined to be leaking or venting CO² while in transit:
11. Immediately pull the vehicle over  to the side of the road. Do not try to continue driving, or remain in, the vehicle  while the cylinder is leaking or venting. Inhalation of as little as 3% CO² gas can cause uncomfortable physiological effects. Inhalations of large amounts of CO² gas, 10% and above, can cause unconsciousness (in less than 1 minute) and possibly death.
12. Do not try to stop the cylinder from leaking or venting. Leaking or venting CO² gas can cause frostbite.
13. Do not try removing a leaking or venting cylinder from a vehicle.

Including the above items in all practices for transporting CO² cylinders should enhance the safety of all personnel, equipment and property.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained herein is provided as a service to the public and is intended for informational purposes only.  Evergreen Sales and Services Corp. expressly warns that information contained herein may not be completely accurate and/or up to date. Therefore, neither Evergreen Sales and Services Corp. nor any of its affiliates assumes any liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. The statements herein shall have no force or effect. If you detect any omissions, misstatements or errors, please contact us immediately.