We've had at least one regulator fail on a cylinder of H2S mixture. The coi led Bourdon tube developed a rupture failure about an inch long. The escape of gas blew the regulator gage dial, face and indicator across the room. A rare event but it is usually easy to avoid being right in front of the ga ge when the cylinder is opened. Jim Woodring ESQ Industrial Hygiene Argonne National Laboratory jwoodring**At_Symbol_Here**anl.gov -----Original Message----- From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Ge orge D. McCallion Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 2:00 PM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Gas Regulator Question hear hear! I echo this as well. My practice is when working on process valves to turn away when opening or closing. I instruct my interns & new employees the same practice. Although I am a Process Chemist this thread does have cross- discipline impact! Cheers! George D. McCallion Chemist III Chemical Process Research & Development Johnson Matthey Pharmaceutical Materials 2003 Nolte Drive West Deptford, NJ 08066-1742 Voice: 856.384.7255 Fax: 856.384.7186 E-Mail: mccalgd**At_Symbol_Here**jmusa.com ************************************************************************ ********* On Apr 30, 2010, at 2:39 PM, Debbie M. Decker wrote: > A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.......I was trained to stand > to the side of the regulator, not right in front, when opening the > cylinder valve. Still do! > > Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety Officer > Environmental Health and Safety > University of California, Davis > 1 Shields Ave. > Davis, CA 95616 > (530)754-7964/(530)752-4527 (FAX) > dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu > Co-Conspirator to Make the World A > Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy > > > > ------------------original message-------------------- > > Long ago, when I was taking welding lessons, the > instructor taught us to avert 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 explode the glass. > > Since that time, I have read several books on > laboratory practices and do not recall any of them alluding to the > practice of averting one's face when opening a gas cylinder. > Should they? > > With all the accumulated experience in this group, has anyone heard > of this practice or hazard? > > (Note: My old instructor might have been confusing a > defective regulator hazard with the one resulting from using a > contaminated regulator with an oxygen cylinder.) > > Thank you very much, > > Ben >
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