Publications

EIGA’s series of Human Factor Safety Information sheets are intended to explore Human Factors specific to the industrial gases industry, raise awareness on these issues, and provide guidance. Human factors in the design and effectiveness of procedures focuses on what makes a procedure effective and on how writing and maintaining well designed procedures can ensure consistency and that everyone has the same basic level of information. They are a key element of a safety management system and an important training tool. Poor procedures can be a reason for people not following recommended actions. This Human Factors Safety Information sheet gives an overview of the various aspects to consider and provides an assessment checklist.

EIGA’s series of Human Factor Safety Information sheets are intended to explore Human Factors specific to the industrial gases industry, raise awareness on these issues, and provide guidance. Human factors in incident investigation focuses on the management system failures and human failures that can make people lose control over hazards. To prevent or reduce the chance of such failures, we have to know what the failures are and what causes them. This human factors safety information sheet gives an overview of the various aspects to consider and provides an assessment checklist and guidance on some tools to assist.

EIGA’s series of Human Factor Safety Information sheets are intended to explore Human Factors specific to the industrial gases industry, raise awareness on these issues, and provide guidance. This human factors safety information sheet gives an overview of the various aspects to consider on training and competence of individuals and provides an assessment checklist. Although the Human Factors Safety Information sheets are aimed primarily at supervisors and managers, they may be of benefit to others who work within our industry.

Within the EIGA library, there are many documents that deal with avoiding incidents through the application of proper design standards, operating procedures and safety management systems. This document is the first in the series of Human Factor Safety Information sheets which are intended to: · explore the Human Factors specific to the industrial gases industry, · raise awareness on these issues, and · provide guidance. In some cases, these information sheets demonstrate how and where Human Factors are already addressed and included in existing documented best practice and guidance. Although the Human Factors Safety Information sheets are aimed primarily at supervisors and managers, they may be of benefit to others who work within our industry.

Several incidents have recently been reported to EIGA that have highlighted the importance to conduct appropriate risk analysis for the process of cleaning cylinder neck threads and to take appropriate precautions. Be aware that cleaning by using a fast-rotating iron brush will most likely induce enough ignition power to initialise an instant flash fire in an oxidising atmosphere

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