Changing forklift propane cylinders should be filled or changed only by trained personnel using proper safety procedures. Follow any and all of your company's procedures relating to propane activities. If your company has no procedure for changing cylinders, a guide will need to be written and training will need to be performed to protect all involved in cylinder exchange. Contact your supervisor immediately if you have any propane safety concerns or questions. Never attempt to change or fill a cylinder if you have not been properly trained to do so. During the exchange, wear proper gloves and eye protection when performing propane transfer activities, including connecting, disconnecting or filling a cylinder. Avoid contact with liquid propane, as it can cause frostbite.
Start the exchange by removing the empty cylinder. You will need to turn the forklift engine off and set the parking brake. Close the cylinder's service valve by turning it clockwise. Disconnect the female quick-connect fitting from the male quick-connect fitting by turning it counterclockwise. Disconnect the toggle clamp that secures the propane cylinder to the forklift. Remove the cylinder from forklift, using proper lifting techniques.
Before mounting the new full cylinder, inspect cylinder for proper specification for forklift use. Inspect cylinder for leaks, corrosion, denting, bulging, fire damage, or evidence of rough usage to the extent the cylinder is likely to be weakened appreciably. Inspect cylinder for current inspection. Inspect the valves, valve protection (guard) and foot ring. If the cylinder fails any part of this inspection, DO NOT USE IT and contact your propane supplier about the defective cylinder.
Once the new cylinder has passed the visual inspection, lift the filled cylinder using proper lifting techniques and place it on the forklift with the locating pin properly inserted through the locating pin hole in the cylinder's neck ring. Reconnect the toggle clamp and be sure the clamp properly secures the cylinder. Make sure the propane hose is not cut or chafed and the gasket and O-ring are properly installed in the male quick-connect fitting. Connect and tighten the male and female quick-connect fittings. Slowly open the cylinder service valve by turning counterclockwise. Check for leaks using an approved leak-detector solution. Also listen for a hiss and smell for propane. Make sure the propane hose or cylinder does not extend beyond the forklift's sides or rear. Make sure the propane cylinder is properly secured against movement. Start engine and resume operation.
Store propane forklift cylinders in a location set forth in your local fire code and the cylinders must be secured against tampering and damage. Empty cylinders can be stored upside down to identify they are used. Do not store cylinders or park propane forklifts in areas of excessive heat or near sources of ignition. Store propane cylinders and even unattended forklifts with their service valves closed.
With training and having a procedure in place will ensure safe cylinder exchange for your forklift trucks. Recorded training will also ensure all employees that must exchange cylinders have proper training and are qualified to do so.
There are good safety procedures and there are bad. Finding safe methods of getting home at the end of the day is easy. Scan the internet and you will find oodles of articles offering information and tips on staying safer and healthier. Well, sometimes you need to know the things to look out for around the home and the workplace. Bad measures can cost you dearly, and if you know what to keep an eye out for, you will be able to avoid situations and circumstances that could, literally, be the death of you.
Safety procedures are in place for a reason. Generally, your workplace environment is responsible for insuring promotion of a safer working environment, but there are times the employer negligently ?forgets? to provide you with the tools and information you need for a safer, better you.
Take a look at these things you should keep an eye out for when working. What should you do should you see these happening? Well, if your employer does nothing to rectify the situation, it may be best to find yourself a new employer who does care about safety in the workplace. In addition, many of these are regulated and if not followed can lead to stiff penalizing of the employer. Keep at it, and good luck!
> Wearing the right personal protection apparel is important. If you see people in a foundry not wearing flame resistant apparel, or maybe you see electricians without their arc protection, you need to be concerned. Not only is this dangerous for those choosing to live dangerously, this is dangerous for those around them too.
> Working tired, under the influence, or groggy is deadly. Would you want to have heart or brain surgery from a physician that was drugged or so sleepy he or she couldn't concentrate? Probably not. Why would you accept less from your co-workers or workplace? There are many types of careers where being out of your mind is going to have dire consequences. Generally, there are regulations in place insuring alert and aware employees.
> Industry standards are there for a reason. If you do not see that your employer has the right labeling or warning signs, you may have a problem. Labels are cheap and they save lives. There are a variety of labels and warning signs that help you live safer. Are these present where they should be? Maybe your employer is not aware of recent changes, or maybe the employer is too cheap to offer the protection you need. What does that say of your employer?
> Safety procedures include hardhats, safety glasses, and other types of personal protection equipment. Employers can purchase these personal protection equipments at awesome prices when purchased in bulk. The employer or manager should never ask you to enter a hazardous situation unexpectedly without the right equipment.
Whether you are a veteran or just starting out in your field, the right safety procedures can and will save lives. When you need to know what to expect, turning to your employer is great, but you have to watch for errors in judgment as well as those employers that are too cheap to protect you.
Both Abb Safety Net & Max Johnson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Abb Safety Net has sinced written about articles on various topics from Small Business, Anger Control and Small Business. Brent Bowlin is a health and safety researcher who has helped businesses in implementing safety programs. For help contact him at abbsafetynet@gmail.com and for safety supplies go to www.safetysuppliescanada.com, they deliver anywhere. Submitted by:. Abb Safety Net's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
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