How to Stay Safe When Handling Nitrogen Gas

Responsibly transporting nitrogen cylinders is essential to the safety of employees and the general public. 

Gas Safe recommends that any organisation transporting dangerous goods, such as nitrogen gas bottles, follows the basic legal safety regulations within ADR, including driver training, vehicle ventilation, safety equipment and basic safety training with gases.

In this blog, we’ll look at how you can minimise risks when transporting, operating and storing nitrogen gas cylinders. 

Transporting Nitrogen Cylinders

Nitrogen must be stored, handled and transported in an upright position. You should secure all cylinders from moving in your vehicle in case of an emergency stop or unexpected manoeuvre.

When transporting any type of gas cylinder, it’s essential to ensure that your vehicle is well ventilated to reduce the risk of fire or explosion. The content of the cylinder should be visible and never covered with dust sheets or tarpaulin.

It’s important to take extra care when handling cylinders or moving them to your vehicle, as dropping them can submit them to shock or result in serious injury. Best practice for transferring cylinders includes using trolleys or mechanical lifting devices.

To move larger or heavier cylinders, you should ensure you’re wearing the correct PPE, including safety shoes, goggles and protective gloves. 

You should always obey the following gas safety rules when transporting nitrogen gas cylinders: 

• No smoking in or near any vehicle that is being used to transport gas bottles
• No carrying more than 333kg of gas without an ADR license
• No operation of ignition near the gas bottles
• No carrying of any unnecessary passengers

Operating Nitrogen Safely 

To avoid any potential hazards when working with nitrogen, you should use it safely and in a controlled manner. To prevent oxygen deficiency, you should always work with nitrogen in areas that are well ventilated with at least four to six changes of fresh air per hour; this will depend on the size of your workspace and the amount of nitrogen you’re using. 

Nitrogen is often mistakenly considered harmless because it is non-toxic. However, it can cause issues if left to displace oxygen to levels below those required to support life. Due to its properties which make it colourless and odourless, we would recommend investing in a portable or personal oxygen monitoring system.

Facilities that store and use nitrogen will have an emergency response plan which prepares for situations where employees may need to evacuate or seek medical attention. With these emergency plans in place, the risk of injury associated with pressure release and oxygen deficiency can be significantly reduced. 

Safe Storage for Nitrogen

When stored, nitrogen cylinders should be kept in the upright position in a well-ventilated area. You can secure cylinders with a chain or strap in a proper cylinder cart away from direct sunlight.  

It is recommended that cylinders should be stored in areas that do not exceed 125°F (52°C). The gas will expand with heat and increase the pressure in the cylinder, ultimately increasing the risk of explosion. 

The storage area should be weather-proof and at a safe distance, approximately 20 feet from any combustible materials or intense heat sources. As the cylinders are a conductor of electricity, it’s essential to keep them away from any circuits, open flames, or other potential hazards, like metal piping or sparks. 

When a gas cylinder is empty or not being used, ensure that the valve is closed, the regulator removed, and the valve protector cap is secured in place.

At Bottle Gases, we can provide you with a range of nitrogen cylinders in different sizes that can be used in a number of industries for various uses. Our selection includes food grade nitrogen, nitrogen for tyre inflation and nitrogen for air conditioning.

Our experienced team can help you to find exactly what you need, so why not call us on 01843 220 596 today? Or you can get in touch with us via our online enquiry form and we will be in touch with you shortly.