Most of our liquid nitrogen workshops are designed for operators who work with low-pressure vessels holding 500 litres or less. Many large manufacturers, however, store liquid nitrogen in bulk tanks that hold well over 1,000 litres. At that scale, the equipment, the hazards and the emergency arrangements are quite different. To support these clients, we have developed a dedicated bulk liquid nitrogen safety workshop. It sits alongside our online cryogenic safety training. Below we explain what the workshop covers and share feedback from a recent session at a UK manufacturing site.
Why bulk liquid nitrogen needs its own training
One litre of liquid nitrogen expands to roughly 700 litres of nitrogen gas. A 1,000-litre bulk tank therefore holds enough to release around 700,000 litres of gas, which is enough to displace oxygen across a large area very quickly. Bulk installations are also pressurised systems, with vaporisers, pipework, relief devices and regular tanker deliveries.
Bulk liquid nitrogen installations fall under the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000. The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) publishes industry guidance on cryogenic liquid storage at users’ premises in its Code of Practice CP 36. A workshop built around this equipment helps staff become aware of the hazards specific to their own installation.
Tailoring the workshop to the site
No two bulk installations are identical, so we shape each workshop around the client’s own equipment. For this session, our trainer, Mark, arrived early. He discussed the site’s processes with their EHS lead and inspected the actual tank and equipment the team works with. That allowed the session to focus on the valves, gauges, and emergency arrangements staff would really encounter, rather than a generic tank.
Is a bulk liquid nitrogen workshop right for your site?
You may benefit from bulk training if:
- Your site stores liquid nitrogen in vessels holding more than 1,000 litres
- Staff operate the tank, monitor contents, or receive tanker deliveries
- Your emergency procedures for a leak or relief valve discharge have not been practised
- You have a new, extended or modified installation
- Existing staff are due for refresher training
What the client told us
After the workshop, the client’s EHS lead shared the following feedback:
- Mark’s early arrival gave them the chance to talk through their processes and inspect the tank together. That kept the training “tailored to our working environment, rather than focusing solely on course theory”.
- Every question raised during the session was answered clearly and relevantly.
- The delivery was engaging and interactive. Participants could ask questions as they arose and stayed actively involved throughout.
- The session was very well delivered and relevant to their needs, and the team asked us to pass their compliments on to Mark.
Bulk liquid nitrogen keeps many manufacturing processes running, but its safe use depends on people who are aware of how the system works and are prepared to act if something goes wrong. Training built around your own tank and equipment gives your team both.
Explore our online training for using liquid nitrogen safely in industrial environments to give your team a thorough grounding in the properties of liquid nitrogen, safe handling practices and emergency procedures. If your site uses bulk vessels over 1,000 litres and you would like to arrange a bulk liquid nitrogen workshop, please get in touch or email admin@gassafeconsultants.co.uk. We will be happy to help.
