We visit many companies to advise on DSEAR and Fire risk assessments that use flammable gases in their processes.  Many understand the risks of gases such as Acetylene and propane and attempt to put controls on place to maintain safety levels.

However we increasingly find that these controls are undermined by the staff who work with the gases.  Simple fixes, such as checking and replacing perished hoses and making sure the gases are safely secured, often seem to be forgotten.

When talking to experienced staff and showing them what we have found, it appears mostly to be someone else’s fault. We routinely tell management that they need to refresh training in order to remind staff of the risks and how they can help to control them.  It seems that even the most experienced of operators forget the basics.

Another concern we report on is why these gases are so often left around the workshop rather than removed to a safe position outside of the building.  If there was a fire then the implications on the business can often result in the site being closed down by the fire service.  If acetylene is involved then this could be for more than 24 hours.  Just think what would that mean to your business!

Importantly, are you having your controls checked periodically by a competent Gas Safe engineer? Making sure your gas safety is properly managed could prevent a potential disaster in the future.

Rather than wait to be told by a third party why not re-look at how you manage the safety of such gases?