How Safe are your Gas Cylinders?
Jan 1, 2010
LPG cylinders provide an excellent source of fuel that can be moved around the workplace.
They are used for heating spaces, as fuel for cooking, as part of manufacturing processes, for fuelling forklift trucks and for maintenance and engineering purposes. You will find LPG cylinders in factories, in the leisure industry, in warehouses, on construction sites and for retail to the general public.
While providing a relatively clean and transportable fuel source, they do introduce hazards into the workplace. There are fire and explosion risks associated with the use and storage of cylinders and employers should take appropriate measures to control these. The fire risk assessment for the premises should identify the cylinders as a fuel source and should specify the safety measures required to make the workplace safe.
Cylinders should be stored in well ventilated, secure areas displayed warning signage. Storage areas should be designed to separate the cylinders from heat sources and combustible materials and to protect the building from the effects of a gas leak. The employer should have emergency procedures in place in the event of a leak or a fire at the storage area, and staff should receive appropriate training.
Advice is available in guidance documents produced by UKLPG, the trade association for the LPG industry in the UK. Information can be found at: www.uklpg.org
Wilby Risk Management has produce two technical notes based on UKLPG codes of practice for gas cylinder storage and small bulk LPG storage. These can be downloaded here.
