In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), regulates and investigates workplace safety. Most countries have their equivalent of OSHA which works in a similar manner. OSHA may conduct random checks, follow up on registered complaints or investigate accidents involving the safety of workers.
When dealing with high-pressure gases, cylinder technicians need to be aware of the numerous hazards: Corrosion, falling cylinders dislodging valves, burst discs rupturing, and decibel levels of escaping gases. The technician, or anyone handling a high-pressure cylinder, needs to be aware of the cylinder and its surroundings during use.
In August of 2019, a wedding DJ was using a carbon dioxide cylinder for effects during a wedding celebration. There was an incident reported as an explosion involving the cylinder and stating three people were injured. As in most immediate news reports, accuracy was not key, and there was not much follow up to the initial claims of the explosion.
A deliver driver was moving a fully charged Oxygen cylinder for transport. The oxygen storage cylinder was 4.5 feet tall and pressurized to approximately 2000 psi. The driver was rolling the cylinder at a slant, using the base of the cylinder as a pivot point/rolling base. The valve was facing his abdomen. It is unknown for certain but likely was not capped.
Hydrostatic testing may not be enough to determine cylinder safety.
Understanding pressure release devices in High Pressure Cylinders
