Quick Start Guide
Chapter 13: Gas Safety

Program: Gas Safety
Revised 11/13
URL: http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/CH13.html
Revision Record: http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/pub3000/Pub3000Changes.html

Who needs to know about these requirements?

The requirements of the Gas Safety Program apply to

• Berkeley Lab employees, casual and participating visitors, affiliates, and subcontractors

Whenever they are

• Performing work using compressed gases at Berkeley Lab

Why?

The unsafe use of compressed gases may result in:

• Injuries, fatalities, and/or property loss caused by fire, explosion, exposure to toxic gases, uncontrolled pressure release, improper storage, and transport of cylinders
• Violation of federal and state regulations

What you need to do before performing work:

• Define work/protocols.
• Analyze hazards. Perform risk assessment:
• Workers who handle compressed gases are required to analyze hazards with work processes described in Work Process A, General Requirements.
• Workers who handle flammable gases are required to analyze hazards with Work Process B, Flammable Gases.
• Workers who handle pyrophoric gases are required to analyze hazards with Work Process C, Pyrophoric Gases.
• Workers who handle health hazard gases are required to analyze hazards with work processes described in Work Process D, Health Hazard Gases.
• All use of pyrophoric or health hazard gases require completion and approval of an AHD.
• Develop controls:
• Health hazard gases must be used and stored inside of functional fume hoods or gas cabinets.
• California Fire Code highly toxic and toxic gases (recommended for other NFPA Class 3 gases): All potential gas leak points must be contained within exhausted enclosures.
• Pyrophoric gases that are also toxic or highly toxic must be used or stored in indoor gas cabinets.
• Gas-detection controls must be used when significant toxic, flammable, or oxygen-deficiency leak risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means or when required by codes. When gas-detection procedures are required, Appendix A, Gas-Detection System Requirements, is used to determine gas-detector-system maintenance, audit, responsibility, selection, and installation requirements.
• Work Process E, Training, describes required training: Compressed gas system operators must take EHS0171, Pressure Safety. Hazardous gas system operators must also take EHS0348, Chemical Hygiene and Safety.

Where to find out more:

ES&H Manual, Gas Safety

Whom to contact for help:

• Kurt Ettinger, the EHSS Health Hazard Gas Subject Matter Expert, ext. 2016