Publications

In the supply of industrial and medical gases to customers and their subsequent use and application, EIGA members regularly see critical incidents or near misses. Lack of knowledge or risk awareness can result in wrong handling of equipment, inadequate application of the product or even misuse of equipment/products and can lead to severe incidents or potentially high-risk scenarios. This Awareness Package is intended to alert customers to these situations and provide some discussion points to be considered.

An incident which occurred when an employee used unsafe access methods to a pallet once again highlights the dangers of working at height, even when at fairly low levels above ground.

This Safety Information is intended to raise awareness of hazards and safety measures necessary regarding the filling of acetylene cylinders of welded construction with a footring.

The potential hazards associated with oxygen-enriched atmospheres are well known and several EIGA publications provide personnel working with oxygen with details of the fire and explosion hazards associated with these conditions. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic patients receive High-Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO) as an effective means of treatment, capable of delivering an oxygen flow rate of up to 60 litres per minute. As more wards are equipped for oxygen treatment and HFNO treatment, it is possible the ventilation systems will not be able to maintain atmospheres that are not oxygen enriched.

EIGA members remain adhering strictly to quality and safety requirements for medical 99.5% oxygen to the well-established and validated European Monograph 0417

Every day EIGA members transport many thousands of cylinder packages. Recently EIGA’s Safety Advisory Council has received a number of reports of cylinders and cylinder bundles not being securely attached to the vehicle and then falling onto the road. This Safety Information has been issued to remind transporters of the requirements and precautions to be taken when transporting cylinders.

Nitrous oxide use as an intoxicating substance and recreational drug, is on the rise particularly at festivals, events and night clubs. The growing popularity may lie in the fact that nitrous oxide is relatively cheap and easy to obtain. Nitrous oxide may appear harmless but can entail serious health risks. This safety information outlines some of those significant risks. EIGA strongly disapproves of the personal use of gases without medical surveillance and, in particular, disapproves the inhalation of any gases, except those when prescribed and used as medicines, or when specifically produced, sold and used for breathing applications such as diving.

EIGA members have recently reported several incidents with carbon dioxide cylinder packages, including both single cylinders and bundles of cylinders. The bursting of the cylinder is caused in most cases due to overfilling, in particular for small cylinder sizes, typically less than 5 litres. This publication lists practices which should avoid the burst of a cylinder.

Working at height is a common type of activity in the gas industry and many different hazards have been identified for working at height. EIGA wants to raise awareness of the specific risk of suspension trauma which may be less understood and consequently underestimated. In the gas industry, suspension trauma is most likely to occur when a person working at height and using a harness accidentally falls and is left motionless, suspended by the harness for a period of time. This Safety Information is intended to raise awareness, to all those involved in the planning and execution of working at heights when using fall arrest systems, of how suspension trauma can occur while people are suspended following a fall and provides guidance on signs and symptoms. The document also outlines recommendations for preventing suspension trauma, as well as recommendations for worker training and rescue.

The Safety Information summarises a number of recommendations regarding material selections, cleanliness, management of suppliers and a number of operational considerations that are covered in EIGA Doc 200 in detail. This edition of Safety Information 33 is intended as a reminder that EIGA Doc 200 should be consulted by those who are involved with the design, specification and maintenance of air separation plants.