Environmental Health & Safety Manual (EHS)

Effective: 7/1/2011

Revised:

EHS 122: Compressed Gases

Purpose

To protect all ASU employees and the community from potential hazards associated with the storage, handling, and use of compressed gases

To meet applicable federal, state, and local regulations

Source

29 Code of Federal Regulations §§ 1910 and 1926

National Fire Protection Association Standards

Arizona State University Fire Prevention and Safety Plan

Arizona State University Compressed Gas Safety Program

Applicability

All university employees, volunteers, and service providers who physically transport and make connections to compressed gas systems

All ASU-owned or leased facilities

Definitions

For the purposes of this procedure the following definitions apply.

Compressed gas

1. a gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding 40 psi at 70° F (21.1° C)
2. a gas or mixture of gases having, in a container, an absolute pressure exceeding 104 psi at 130° F (54.4° C) regardless of the pressure at 70° F (21.1° C)
3. a liquid having a vapor pressure exceeding 40 psi at 100° F (37.8° C) as determined by ASTM D-323-72.

Qualified licensed contractor

An organization licensed to conduct business in the state of Arizona that has been contracted through ASU Purchasing, completed and returned an ASU Service Provider Acknowledgment Agreement, and specializes in the installation and/or maintenance of compressed gas systems.

Policy

Departments and units shall require that all ASU employees and volunteers who physically transport and make connections to compressed gas systems complete training requirements identified by Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) related to the use of compressed gases and follow the requirements of the ASU Compressed Gas Safety Program. Departments and units shall ensure that the installation of compressed gases follows CPM 309–01: “Building and Remodeling Permits and Inspections” and that any service provider involved in the use of compressed gases has completed a Service Provider Acknowledgement Form.

Procedures

1. Each ASU employee, including faculty, staff, researchers, and part-time employees who physically transports and makes connections to compressed gas systems for use at ASU must complete compressed gas safety training approved by EH&S.
2. All permanent installations of compressed gases must follow the CPMG permitting process.
3. All use of portable flammable compressed gas systems must be approved either through the CPMG permitting process or through the use of the prior approval form identified in the ASU Chemical Hygiene Program.
4. Approved uses of flammable compressed gases will be identified at the point of use by EH&S or CPMG in evaluating regulatory compliance during inspections. Point-of-use identification will include approved gases and concentrations, quantity, and date of approval.
5. ASU faculty members sponsoring graduate students, visiting researchers, or other personnel not identified above as qualified licensed contractors will follow this policy.

---

Responsibilities

ASU employees, including faculty, staff, researchers and part-time employee staff, are responsible for the safety and health of their employees and co-workers and must adhere to the requirements of this program. Each chair/dean/director or designee is responsible for identifying personnel affected by this policy and complying with all training and safety measures identified by the ASU Compressed Gas Safety Program and this policy.

ASU EH&S Department is responsible for compliance with this program by providing policies, programs, training, and guidelines designed to ensure that safe work practices are developed, employed, and revised as necessary.

EH&S and CPMG will monitor the installation of and use of compressed gases to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory compliance.

Cross-References

For more information, see:

1. EHS 103, “Hazard Communication Program”
2. EHS 105, “Personal Protective Equipment”

   and

3. EHS 108, “Environmental Health and Safety Training.”

  skip navigation bar

---

EHS manual | ASU policies and procedures manuals | Index of Policies by Title | EHS manual contact | Environmental Health & Safety Web site

 

Back to Top