Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:45:20 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "House, Katherine C." <HouseKC**At_Symbol_Here**CORMETECH.COM>
Subject: Re: Gas Regulator Question
In-Reply-To: <F3558EC01B504A4C88E5400C2DC5C2D7**At_Symbol_Here**bruekbergterm1>

I took a class from AirGas/National Welders in 2007 offered through WFU’s Chemistry grad program.  It was on basic compressed gas cylinder safety.  As I r ecall, the instructor had at least one slide of the subject of gauges exploding.  If I remember correctly, he said it used to happed rarely with older regulators, but it’s still a possibility (although remote) with moder n ones. 

He also spent several slides on contaminated oxygen regulators.  AirGas performed an experiment at the facility where they test their oxygen tanks.  They f ed all of the employees fried chicken for lunch and asked them not to wash the ir hands before returning to handle the oxygen regulators.  They then tes ted the Kentucky Fried regulators on oxygen tanks with explosive results.  I don’t know if they published this experiment (I Googled it, but didn’t look through the entire list), but my experience with AirGas’s client safe ty education has been really great, so I’m sure they’d answer questions if you called. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Cheers,

 

Katherine C. House, CCHO

Laborator y Coordinator

Chemical Hygiene Officer

Cormetech , Inc.

5000 International Drive

Durham, N C 27712

919.620.3 044 (office)

919.815.2 024 (mobile)

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion Lis t [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Ben Ruekberg
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 9:20 AM
To:
DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here** LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Gas Regul ator Question

 

   & nbsp;        Long ago, when I was taking welding lessons, the instructor taught us to av ert our faces from the regulator gauges when opening a gas tank because of a possible defect in the regulator that would pressurize the gauge and explod e the glass.

 

   & nbsp;        Since that time, I have read several books on laboratory practices and do n ot recall any of them alluding to the practice of averting one’s face wh en opening a gas cylinder.  Should they?

 

With all the accumulated experience in this group, has anyone h eard of this practice or hazard?

 

   & nbsp;        (Note: My old instructor might have been confusing a defective regulator ha zard with the one resulting from using a contaminated regulator with an oxygen cylinder.)

 

   & nbsp;        Thank you very much,

 

   & nbsp;        Ben

   & nbsp;       

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