Cylinder storage and handlingUnder the Health and Safety at Work Act 2005 and HTMO2 guidelines, it is the responsibility of employers to train their employees on the recommended safeguards relating to the handling of medical gases to ensure they understand and employ safe practices.

The basic safety guidance on this page is not intended as a substitute for the necessary comprehensive training that is required for portering staff, nurses and other personnel regularly involved in handling medical gases.

HTM02 provides comprehensive guidance on the design and construction of medical gas cylinders stores. Below is a summary of the key requirements for the design of a medical gas cylinder store. 

Medical gas cylinders should be kept in a purpose built cylinder store that should allow the cylinders to be kept dry and in a clean condition. When designing the cylinder store a risk assessment should be carried out to ensure that the chosen location is as safe as is practicable and that any manual handling issues are engineered out at the planning stage. 

As far as possible the medical gas cylinder store should:

• Allow cylinders to be stored under cover, preferably enclosed and not subjected to extremes of temperature

• Be kept dry, clean and well ventilated (both top and bottom)

• Have good access for delivery vehicles and reasonably level floor areas 

• Be large enough to allow for segregation of full and empty cylinders and permit separation of different medical gases within the store

• Be totally separate from any non medical cylinder storage areas

• Be sited away from storage areas containing highly flammable liquids and other combustible materials and any sources of heat or ignition

• Have warning notices posted prohibiting smoking and naked lights within the vicinity of the store

• Be  secure enough to prevent theft and misuse

The layout and racking within the medical gas cylinder store should;

• Allow for strict stock rotation of full cylinders to enable the cylinders with the shortest expiry time to be used first

• Allow large size cylinders (such as F, HX, ZX, G and J sizes) to be stored vertically on concrete floored pens

• Allow small size cylinders (such as C, CD, D and E sizes) to be stored horizontally on shelves (made of a material that will not damage the surface of the cylinders)

• Allow for all ENTONOX cylinders to be stored at above 10°C for 24 hours prior to use. (Where this is not feasible, it is important to consult the ENTONOX Medical Gas Data Sheet for further information before using the cylinders)

Advice should be sought from the local authorities regarding any specific regulations pertaining to the design and location of the cylinder store. 

BOC can provide assistance with the appropriate warning signs required for cylinder stores. Additional information about the layout and operation of the store is available in HTM 02. The Emergency Services should be advised of the location and contents of the cylinder store.

In order to comply with current manual handling regulations, it is advisable that when handling medical gas cylinders, the following precautions are followed:

• Allow cylinders to be stored under cover, preferably enclosed and not subjected to extremes of temperature

• Be kept dry, clean and well ventilated (both top and bottom)

• Have good access for delivery vehicles and reasonably level floor areas 

• Be large enough to allow for segregation of full and empty cylinders and permit separation of different medical gases within the store

• Be totally separate from any non medical cylinder storage areas

• Be sited away from storage areas containing highly flammable liquids and other combustible materials and any sources of heat or ignition

• Have warning notices posted prohibiting smoking and naked lights within the vicinity of the store

• Be  secure enough to prevent theft and misuse