Toolbox talk · Emergencies
Compressed gas cylinders
We use oxygen, acetylene, and other gas cylinders on our jobs every week. A cylinder that falls and breaks its valve can take off like a rocket, and a leak can start a fire fast. Let's go over how we store, move, and use them safely.
Published 2026-10-23
Key points
- 1Always keep cylinders standing up and secured with a chain or strap so they can't tip over, whether in storage, on a cart, or at the work area.
- 2Put the valve protection cap on whenever the regulator is off, and never lift a cylinder by the cap.
- 3Move cylinders with a proper cylinder cart. Don't roll them on their side, drag them, or drop them, and never hoist them with a magnet or a choker sling.
- 4Store oxygen at least 20 feet away from fuel gas cylinders and from oil or grease, or separate them with a noncombustible wall at least 5 feet high.
- 5Close the cylinder valves when work is finished, when the cylinder is empty, and before you move it.
- 6Keep oil and greasy gloves away from oxygen valves and regulators, and never use oxygen to blow off dust or clothes.
- 7Keep cylinders away from sparks, hot slag, and flames, and never take cylinders inside a tank or confined space.
Talk it over
- Where are the cylinders on our site right now, and are every one of them chained or strapped upright?
- How are we moving cylinders between floors or areas, and is there a safer way we should be doing it?
- Is our oxygen stored far enough from fuel gas, and do we have caps for all the cylinders without regulators?
Remember
Every cylinder: upright, secured, capped when not in use, and valve closed when you walk away.
Also in the other language: Cilindros de gas comprimido
Official sources
Print it with a sign-in sheet
Pro prints every talk on your letterhead with an attendance sheet, records who attended, and emails your foremen this week's talk every Monday.
General information, not legal advice. Templates and examples should be reviewed by a competent person before use. HardHat Binder is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.