Do compressed gas cylinders need to be inspected?

Employers must visually inspect compressed gas cylinders to determine that they are in safe condition under 1910.101. Visual inspections must be conducted as prescribed in the Hazardous Materials Regulations of the Department of Transportation (49 CFR Parts 171–179 and 14 CFR Part 103). Where those regulations are not applicable, visual inspections must be conducted in accordance with Compressed Gas Association, Inc. (CGA) Pamphlet C-6-1968, Standards for Visual Inspection of Compressed Gas Cylinders.

CGA Pamphlet C-6 provides detailed instructions, and Appendix A provides a sample inspection report form. In general, all part of a cylinder (e.g., valves, neck rings, hoses, manifold, regulator, etc.) should be inspected, at a minimum, for: corrosion; pitting; cracks; denting; bulging; gouges; leaks; arbitrary paint; and oil, grease, and other foreign material. Leaking regulators, cylinder valves, or other equipment must be taken out of service.