Compressed Gas Cylinders in Construction Environments

Compressed gases, which were first developed around 1900, are used today in more ways in the construction industry than you might think. In fact, these days it's hard to find a construction project that doesn't use compressed gases in some way. A lot of gas can be squeezed inside a cylinder, but it also takes a lot of force to do it. For example, the compressed oxygen in a typical cylinder puts about 2,200 pounds, or a little more than a ton, of pressure on each square inch of its container's walls. That kind of pressure can be dangerous; you must be very careful just handling them. This program takes a closer look at how you can avoid the hazards associated with compressed gas cylinders and work with them safely in a construction environment. Topics include the types of gases, proper storage and handling of cylinders, and finding and dealing with leaks.