I have seen a cost savings trend that is increasing risks in a big way. It may seem minor to those who do not understand risk, but using a pressure cylinder without it being inspected and tested at its prescribed frequency is a serious safety miss. Usually, these risks are controlled somewhat when the facility has its cylinders filled by a competent 3rd party; notice I said “usually”, as we just learned of the tragic explosion in OH that claimed three lives was caused by a worker overfilling a cylinder that was decades past due for its requalification. But businesses that burn through a lot of cylinders each week have learned it’s much cheaper if they fill their own cylinders.
There is an entirely separate risk profile of having a bulk tank on site and filling cylinders than having the cylinders delivered. And of course, PPE, SOP, and training needs that go with these risks, which are almost always overlooked. So you end up with workers OVERFILLING PAST DUE cylinders such as the one below I found this week!
