University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) departments that use compressed gas cylinders must comply with a wide variety of laws and regulations, including those issued by Cal/OSHA, the California Fire Code and the City of Berkeley. This booklet provides general guidelines to help departments comply with those regulations. More specific information can be obtained from Material Safety Data Sheets and your department’s Job Safety Analyses (JSAs). Talk to your gas supplier about hands-on training and other useful safety information.
Compressed gas cylinders range from small lecture bottles to large cylinders with more than 200 cubic feet of gas. Before using a compressed gas cylinder (“cylinder”), users and handlers must be familiar with general and specific hazards associated with it. There are many different types of gases, including atmospheric gases, welding gases, fuel gases, refrigerant gases, toxic gases, and calibration gas mixtures.
