Gas cylinders are big, heavy and relatively unstable. They are 5 feet tall, stand on a ten inch diameter base and weigh 90 kg. They are basically a very heavy pencil stood on its end.
The bywords when moving gas cylinders are; upright, secured or under direct control.
Manual handling covers a wide variety of tasks including lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying and, specifically for gas cylinders, movement by a process known as milk churning. If any of these tasks are not carried out safely then there is a risk of injury.
Work related manual handling injuries can have serious implications for the employer too, as they may have to bear substantial costs, for example; for retraining, wages, overtime and civil liability.
Manual Handling Regulations
The Manual Handling Operations Regulations set out a hierarchy of measures to reduce the risks from manual handling. They require employers to:
- Avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as is reasonably practicable.
- Assess the risk in any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided.
- Reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable through the implementation of appropriate risk reduction controls.
- Ensure physical capability and training.
Assessing physical capability
With respect to risk reduction controls, the first thing to consider is physical capability. In essence, does an individual have the physical capability to move a 90 kg weight? If not, then they should leave the cylinder where it is and get assistance.
Training requirements
Operators must be properly trained to move a gas cylinder. In our experience we frequently come across individuals who have received manual handling training and have lifted an empty cardboard box up from the floor and placed it onto a table. Yet they have not received any tuition as to how to milk churn a gas cylinder on its base. (Milk churning should only be undertaken on flat, level ground for relatively short distances by individuals who have the physical capability to undertake the task, who are wearing the correct personal protective equipment and who have been trained in the movement).
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
With respect to personal protective equipment, anyone moving a gas cylinder should wear safety shoes or boots with steel toe caps. Consideration should be given to wearing safety boots which have metatarsal protection. Stout leather gloves should be worn to protect the hands from metal burrs or crushing injuries.
We strongly recommend that anyone who is handling gas cylinders wears safety glasses or goggles to protect the eyes from an accidental release of gas pressure.
Using cylinder trolleys
Why trolleys are safer
The safest way to move a gas cylinder, even over short distances, is secured on an appropriate cylinder trolley. There are many designs of cylinder trolleys available.
Choosing a suitable trolley
When choosing one for your operations, consideration should be given to:
- The suitability for the size, shape and weight of the cylinder(s) to be moved.
- The effectiveness of the restraints used to secure the cylinder, for example straps or chains (cylinders should not be moved on sack barrows that have no restraining straps).
- The compatibility with the surface over which the trolley has to operate (larger wheels are generally recommended).
- The physical effort needed to operate and move the trolley:
- Operators using two wheel trolleys must support part of the cylinder weight during movement.
- Four wheel trolleys support the full weight and allow the operator to stop the movement safely at any time.
- We advocate the use of four wheel trolleys because they support the full weight of the cylinder and improve load distribution.
Check your staff are trained
Please check if your staff have received the correct tuition with respect to moving gas cylinders. If you require any assistance with practical milk churning tuition then please contact us on 01270 758890 or admin@gassafeconsultants.co.uk.
