Use and Care Manual

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IT’S YOUR LIFE . . .

Preserve it with Safety

This safety bulletin illustrates causes of industrial accidents with

torches, hoses and regulator and shows the two ways in which these

accidents can be prevented:

1. SAFE HANDLING OF TORCHES, REGULATORS, AND CYLINDERS

2. USE OF AVAILABLE MODERN SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Remember, safety is a full-time responsibility. Accidents don’t need to

happen. Understanding their cause and cure is the best prevention.

“BLOWN” REGULATORS . . .

Illustrate the type of serious accidents which can cause injury, lost

time, liability, property damage, and administrative headaches. This

is a typical accident that frequently occurs and can be prevented.

Gases incorrectly mixed within the regulator and hose create an

explosive mixture which can ignite.

The subsequent explosion is violent and injuries come from both the

flames and the disintegrating metal.

THE EXPLOSIVE FORCE . . .

Resulting from the incorrectly mixed gases which are lighted can be

tremendous. Regulators can rupture. The letter, reprinted on this

page, describes an accident where an oxygen cylinder exploded:

“A recent explosion of a single oxygen bottle killed three men and injured

thirty others. The top of the bottle was found high in the plant roof; the

bottom was buried deep in the ground. The center portion disintegrated

in the form of shrapnel.”

More frequently, the incorrectly mixed gases ignite in the hose; the

injury to the operator is a burn. However, oxygen and fuel gas burn

at 4000-6000 F, so the burn injury frequently is severe.

SAFETY IS A FULL-TIME RESPONSIBILITY

The accidents described so far could all have been prevented if the

oxygen and fuel gas had been kept separated. The gases cannot

cause trouble when correctly used. For example, each travels from

its cylinder through its regulator and hose into the torch, and only

become mixed in either a specially designed mixing chamber within

the torch itself or in the tip. Danger occurs only when mixing takes

place in some area other than the correct location.

TO START A FIRE . . .

You must have three things: fuel, oxygen and ignition.

No two will burn alone.

For example, a popular fire extinguisher

is filled with carbon dioxide. It puts out

a fire by smothering it. Smothering

means it prevents atmospheric air,

which has a 21% oxygen content, from

getting to the flames. Without the

oxygen, the fire extinguishes itself.

On the other hand, you can’t have a fire without fuel. An automobile

won’t run on an empty gas tank. Finally, a combustible mixture isn’t

dangerous until it’s lighted. Mixed gases in a hose or regulator aren’t

hazardous until they’re lighted. This ignition can occur several ways.

Equipment Operation

SAFETY GUIDELINES

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
Equipment Operation SAFETY GUIDELINES IT’S YOUR LIFE . . . Preserve it with Safety This safety bulletin illustrates causes of industrial accidents with torches, hoses and regulator and shows the two ways in which these accidents can be prevented: 1. SAFE HANDLING OF TORCHES, REGULATORS, AND CYLINDERS 2. USE OF AVAILABLE MODERN SAFETY EQUIPMENT Remember, safety is a full-time responsibility. Accidents don’t need to happen. Understanding their cause and cure is the best prevention. “BLOWN” REGULATORS . . .
PAGE 2
REVERSE FLOW CAUSES . . . Reverse flow caused by unequal pressures can result in mixed gases in hoses and regulators. Reverse flow can happen when: 1. The oxygen cylinder empties in use and with the oxygen needle valve on the torch opened, fuel gas can reverse flow into the oxygen hose and regulator. IF REVERSE FLOW . . . has put mixed gases into the fuel gas hose and regulator, a dangerous explosion can occur when: 2.
PAGE 3
TWO SAFETY FEATURES IN ONE UNIT . . . The regulator type is mounted on the regulator outlet nipple. They have the same capacity as the torch type, and their effective service life is expected to be longer than the torch type. This is because they are subject to less abuse and installed in a clean area (upstream of the hoses). They effectively prevent REVERSE FLOW into the regulator and cylinder and prevent dangerous quantities of mixed gases from entering into the hoses.
PAGE 4
that can ignite within a regulator when subjected to the high temperature following a sudden exposure to extreme pressure. Combustible contaminant's can be present inside a regulator and cause a fire when subjected to recompression heat and oxygen. SAFETY IS A FULL-TIME RESPONSIBILITY . . . and we urge you always to follow these simple safety rules: 1. Chain cylinders to prevent their falling over.