General Safety Program
Compressed Gas Cylinders  

Environment, Health and Safety Department, 30 East Campus Mall, Madison, WI 53715-1227
Phone 265-5000, Fax 262-6767

Storage
Markings

Compressed gases are used in a variety of University of Wisconsin programs such as medical sciences, instructional and research laboratories, welding and field application of pesticides at experimental farms. Compressed gases serve the University in many ways. But contained under high pressures, they also present a number of hazards. This brochure contains guidelines and rules to help ensure the safe handling and storage of compressed gas cylinders.

When cylinders are mishandled they may explode, release their hazardous contents or become dangerous projectiles. Move large cylinders with a cylinder cart and secure them with a chain. To protect the threads and the valve, make sure a cap is in place when the cylinder is not in use. If a cylinder is dropped, knocked over, involved in a fire, or potentially damaged, take it out of service and send it to the manufacturer for inspection.

If a cylinder is damaged, in poor condition, or the contents are unknown, contact your cylinder vendor. If a cylinder is damaged beyond repair it is to be destroyed. The vendor should return the damaged cylinder to the manufacturer for destruction.

• Roll a cylinder to move it
• Carry a cylinder by the valve
• Leave an open cylinder unattended
• Leave a cylinder unsecured
• Force the improper attachments on to the wrong cylinder
• Refill a manufacture's serviceable cylinder
• Discard pressurized cylinders in the normal trash

Storage

Store cylinders in areas designated and marked only for cylinders. Cylinders should be stored in compatible groups.

Separate:

• Flammables from oxidizers
• Corrosives from flammables
• Full Cylinders from empties
• All cylinders from corrosive vapors

Always secure cylinders, whether full or empty!

Markings

The cylinder markings shown below are an example of what would appear on an actual cylinder. The top mark is either a DOT or an ICC marking indicating pertinent regulations for that cylinder. The second mark is the serial number, no two serial numbers may be duplicated. Under the serial number is the symbol of the manufacturer, user, or purchaser. Of the remaining marks the numbers represent the date of manufacture, and retest months-month and year. A (+) sign indicates the cylinder may be 10% overcharged, a star indicates a ten year test interval.