Health and Safety – FAQ

It is important that those who use, handle or transport gas are aware of its potential hazards. 

It is your responsibility to know the properties of the gas in your cylinder and to adhere to related safety regulations. 

To make this easier for you, BOC supply Safety Data Sheets containing this information.  We also offer a range of support services:

• Safety Training Workshops.  These provide hands-on training, essential for users of compressed gases and those who help shape safety policy within their organisation
• Safe Under Pressure.  This series provides a visual guide for training employees and employers alike on important safety issues from cylinder handling to gas properties and equipment advice.  Available in booklet, CD or video format
  

The British Compressed Gases Association's (BCGA) Code of Practice 7 (CP7 - the safe use of oxy-fuel gas equipment) and Guidance Notes 7 (GN7 - the safe use of individual portable or mobile cylinder gas supply equipment) recommend that regulators and flashback arrestors are checked annually and replaced every five years.

Checks need to be undertaken by a person who has sufficient practical experience of oxy-fuel gas equipment and theoretical knowledge of the functioning of the equipment, the properties of gases used, the potential defects and hazards that may occur and their importance to the integrity and safety of the equipment.

To help you comply with the BCGA codes of practice and avoid the pitfalls associated with gas safety, BOC offer CP7 and GN7 checks which can be conducted on your site or at your local BOC Trade Outlet.

To book your safety inspection contact us on 1890 355 255.

In the interests of safety it is important to store cylinders appropriately.

The following points serve as general guidelines only.  Please be aware that for certain products (such as cryogenic gases or LPG) there are specific requirements:

• store cylinders in a well-ventilated, covered area, preferably outside on a level, well-drained surface
• store cylinders vertically and securely to prevent them from toppling
• store full and empty cylinders separately, rotating your cylinder stock holdings so the oldest cylinders are used first
• segregate cylinders by the properties of the gas (i.e. flammable, inert, oxidant, and so on)

For further detail please see the 'Cylinder Safety' section of this site where you will also find information about handling, transporting and maintaining cylinders. 

We also offer the Safe Under Pressure visual guide to working safely with gas cylinders and equipment.  Available in booklet, CD or video format.

Gas cylinders are large, heavy and relatively unstable due to the small base diameter to height ratio. 

It is important to understand the potential dangers if cylinders are not treated with care and respect.

The 'Handling Cylinders' page gives you tips on safe cylinder handling.  
You will find further information about storing, transporting and maintaining cylinders in the Cylinder Safety section of this site. 

We also offer the Safe Under Pressure visual guide to working safely with gas cylinders and equipment.  Available in booklet, CD or video format.

Below is a comprehensive list of technical information sources from BOC: 

• technical library.  Online reference information and guidance regarding gas processes, materials used in cutting and welding, plus a handy set of online technical tools such as calculators and converters are available from this website
• product information.  Online technical information about each of our gases is available from this website
• technical training and safety workshops.  Essential, practical training for users of compressed gases
• useful links.  A list of related web sites which may help with your technical and safety issues

We also have a number of technical experts across the UK. 

If you would like to contact your local expert, please call our customer service centre on 1890 355 255.