OSHA Releases Final Rules for Acetylene Storage Requirements

[PTSideshow]

The revised OSHA standard for acetylene took effect.

The important or interesting part was the revision of the flow rates.

Although the new revision only advises against transporting in automobiles, it specifically prohibits storing acetylene cylinders in confined spaces, such as unventilated cabinets, closets, and drawers.

* While the old standard recommended a flow rate of 1/7 of the cylinder capacity regardless of the duration of use, the revision has advises a flow rate of 1/10 per hour for intermittent use and 1/15 for continuous use.

They have a pdf down load with all the details.
E federal register notice.

OSHA observer Finials rules for Acetylene Nov 2009

And for all the old farts, that were taught, to crack the valve to blow out all the contamination out of the connection. That is now a NO,NO!

* It is recommended that acetylene cylinders valves are not opened without a regulator and flow restrictor.
* The new standard also suggests that the CGA connection is visually examined for signs of contamination and, that all contamination is removed before it is connected to the regulator.

7 pages of verbage but its only our tax dollars @ work

[Teach]

Hmmmmm- - - - -I wonder if I can get somebody from OSHA to come and talk to my garden? I could save a fortune on fertilizer! I used to work with a welding school where we generated out own acetyline. The hopper on the acetyline rig held 100 pounds of carbide granules at a time, and the generator chamber was nearly 10 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter! It was in an ecclosed building just outside the oxyacetyline lab, and had very poor ventilation! About once a week, we would open the drop chamber up and flush it out with a 2" water hose. The fumes could be smelled a football field away!
Jerry

[PeteM]

What's significant is the change in draw down rate. Smaller tanks will be limited to tips drawing half the acetylene we used to consider safe.

[loose nut]

And for all the old farts, that were taught, to crack the valve to blow out all the contamination out of the connection. That is now a NO,NO!

Did they have a good reason for that or was it an uninformed decision based on lack of real world knowledge.

[MuellerNick]

Did they have a good reason for that

One idiot looking closely into the valve, cigarette in his mouth and opening the valve ...


Nick

[gnm109]

The OSHA changes are interesting but, as usual, probably of little importance for home shop folks. My acetylene tank is in a cart, well ventilated. I seldom, if ever, use anywhere near the specified rate. I never blew the valve out anyway. I just take a look in there before I conect the regulator. The cylinders I get are always covered with a plastic cap on the threads and a metal safety cover over the entire valve. They are always as clean as a whistle, I never remove a regulator and leave the valve open.

The whole thing is more of the usual from a top-heavy, inefficient goverment department with nothing to do except add increased burderns on manufacturing.

I dealt with OSHA first-hand for nearly 15 years when I was a safety consultant for a large workers' compensation company. I would work with employers to correct problems both before and after they got inspected or fined by OSHA.

I noticed that, for the most part, the OSHA people, instead of giving a good general inspection of a shop, would almost always focus on the things they knew. They come from all walks of life and some are engineers, former technicians, etc.

If an OSHA rep knew electricals, he would only write up electrical viiolations and ignore flammable items and plumbing. If the OSHA man was formerly in construction, he would focus only on doorways, heights of ceilings and stairways and ignore electricals, fire extinguishers and the physical plant...what good is an inspection if it ignores obvious faults?

So, it's wonderful that OSHA is out there....yawn, burp.

[loose nut]

There was a reason that valves where cracked to blow out the dust etc. It worked, cleaning out the opening with a finger won't.