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PHYSICAL AND SAFETY PROPERTIES OF GASES
a) DO NOT use oxygen to refresh air. There is often a temptation to use oxygen to ‘sweeten’ air whilst welding or cutting
operations are being carried out in confined spaces. Large amounts of oxygen can be released locally in a short time from
gas cylinders under pressure. In one situation where this was done, hot work in the form of flame cutting was carried out
with a subsequent ignition of worker’s clothes and fatal burns.
b) TAKE CARE in confined spaces. Do not leave blowpipes or hoses connected to the supply gases within confined spaces
overnight or during work breaks. Slow leaks can result in very hazardous situations, with possible fire and explosion on re-
ignition of the blowpipe.
c) VENTILATE confined spaces. In flame cutting not all of the oxygen released from the cutting nozzle is necessarily used in
cutting. In confined spaces this may result in a dangerous increase in oxygen content in the air, pointing to the need for
adequate ventilation in such situations.
d) DO NOT use oxygen as a substitute for compressed air. There are many examples of this situation where oxygen has been
used, such as in cleaning, resulting in serious and fatal accidents due to fire or explosion from spontaneous ignition. NEVER
use oxygen to start engines, drive air tools etc.
e) DO NOT use oxygen or compressed air to dust off clothes. Clothes can become readily flammable and even self-igniting
through oxygen enrichment.
f) DO NOT kink pressure hosing. Kinking or nipping hose to interrupt gas flows or whilst changing torches is a very dangerous
practice. Gas can still bleed through the system, or more seriously, escape rapidly should the hose rupture or the operator
lose their grip.
g) The oxygen cylinder once it is empty can devalued and the cylinder recycled at a scrap metal merchant.
DO NOT USE BRAZING/HEATING KIT IF THE RUBBER O-RING IS MISSING OR DAMAGED IN THE REGULATORS
GAS SUPPLY
Your BOSSWELD gas welding and cutting equipment is designed to be used by gases delivered to the point of use from portable
compressed gas cylinders. In all cases, gas supplies may be subject to statutory or regulatory provisions. Many Australian
Standards cover the subject.
a) The Brazing/Heating Kit is fueled with Oxygen and Mapp gas cylinders, Cylinders are generally obtained from gas suppliers.
b) Do not tamper with the markings or colour coding of cylinders. Do not use non colour coded cylinders or those without
safety and information labels.
c) The Oxygen and Mapp gas cylinders are not refillable.
d) Gas should only be used for the particular intended purpose, e.g. never use oxygen for cleaning (dusting), or to provide
ventilation or to support breathing
e) Gases should only be identified by their correct name so as to avoid dangerous confusion or misunderstanding
f) Valve seats and outlets should be protected by keeping all kinds of dirt and contamination away from cylinders, especially
during connection and disconnection. Grit, loose fibers and other dirt may lodge in connectors or valve seats causing leaks
or may be picked up by high velocity gas streams, causing hot spots in regulators, potentially resulting in ignition. Organic
matter such as oil, grease and hydrocarbon liquids which may ignite spontaneously in high pressure oxygen is another
hazard to regulators and other downstream equipment.
g) Do not tamper with safety devices.
GAS SAFETY INFORMATION
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