3353 Manual handling and ergonomic guidance sheet no.9: Manual handling of gas bottles and cylinders

Overview:

This document is freely available to all registered users of this site.

The EI has created a set of 12 good practice guidance sheets for typical manual handling and ergonomic tasks in offshore energy industries. This guidance sheet focuses covers managing factors that influence the way manual handling tasks are performed.

These factors may result from the job design, individual differences or the organisational pressure. Optimising the performance influencing factors will improve the efficiency of the work done and reduce the risk of errors and injuries. This sheet provides guidance for managers and supervisors on how to identify and manage these factors, as well as information for individuals to consider.

These 12 guidance sheets are designed to assist managers and supervisors to tackle hazards and reduce risks that are currently leading to reportable, lost time injuries offshore, and encourage an ergonomic approach to managing risks associated with manual tasks and recorded injuries.

The guidance sheets are grouped into three categories based on the information they cover:

*            management guidance (RED);

*            tasks (GREEN), and

*            injury prevention case studies (BLUE).

Each sheet can be read on its own, but is best read in conjunction with other relevant sheets – which are suggested at the bottom of each sheet.

What this sheet covers

Gas bottles and cylinders come in a range of sizes, weights and with different contents. This sheet reviews equipment and methods that can be used to reduce risks in their handling.

Defining the problem

Gas cylinders provide a consumable resource, so need regular changing. Gas bottles and cylinders present difficulties for operatives when grasping, moving and securing them. Risks are further increased by the movement experienced by offshore facilities and the often difficult to access locations cylinders are required (cabinets, plant rooms etc.).