Valve caps when hoisting compressed gas cylinders

March 30, 2004

Mr. Chris Smith

Via E-mail

Re: 29 CFR 1926.350(a)(6); hoisting compressed gas cylinders on a wheeled cart.

Dear Mr. Smith:

This is in response to your e-mail submitted March 2, 2004, to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). You ask for an interpretation of §1926.350, Gas Welding and Cutting.

We have paraphrased your question as follows:

Question: Does §1926.350(a) require that all regulators be removed, and replaced with valve-protection caps each time the compressed gas cylinders are hoisted in a wheeled cart by a crane?

Answer

Section 1926.350(a)(6) requires that when compressed gas cylinders are transported, moved and stored:

Unless cylinders are firmly secured on a special carrier intended for this purpose, regulators shall be removed and valve protection caps put in place before cylinders are moved.

You describe a situation where you use a crane to hoist oxygen and acetylene tanks strapped to a wheeled cart. The tanks are secured to the cart with tank clamps which can be tightened down around both tanks. There is also an arm with a closed loop to attach the rigging.

The standard states that before moving cylinders, the regulators must be removed and valve protection caps put on, unless "on a special carrier intended for this purpose." In your scenario, the wheeled cart is a special carrier designed to safely support and move oxygen and acetylene tanks on the ground. The cart was not designed or intended to protect tanks from damage when moved by crane; the cart does not include any feature that would protect the regulators in the event they struck against an object while being hoisted. Therefore, the requirement that regulators be removed and valve protection caps be put in place before the cylinders are moved applies.

If you need additional information, please contact us by fax (202-693-1689) at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance. You can also contact us by mail at U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.

Sincerely,

Russell B. Swanson, Director

Directorate of Construction