A study to determine the need for user related standards in the areas of cryogenic and liquefied gas safety

Bibliography: pages 70-75.The purpose of this study was to survey a select group of professionals involved with safety and research in cryogenic and liquefied gas commodities. The group was asked to evaluate specific safety concepts for development into future safety standards. A questionnaire was developed, pre-tested and mailed, and in a reasonable span of time twenty responses were received representing a 100% return rate. The questionnaire was designed to gather data regarding thirty safety concepts structured into three main categories of scientific communities, safety and engineering, and emergency response. The responses were entered into a computer for analysis, charted as a whole and processed using the statistical package. The findings of the study indicated that the concepts would be necessary and appropriate in most situations where cryogenic and liquefied gas commodities are handled. The survey resulted in a positive approval of the study. The proposed concepts of the study, submitted for review to the scientific, safety and engineering and emergency response communities, were found to be acceptable and/or necessary for their development into safety standards. The research community and related industrial cryogenic and liquefied gas users have extensive interests in the need for safe handling of cryogenic and liquefied gas commodities. Their investments in time and dollars require that all involved understand safe procedures to be used within their individual operations. Personnel within the safety and engineering fields are expected to develop and enforce reasonable standards ensuring future safe use of cryogenic and liquefied gas commodities and equipment. Emergency response personnel are expected to respond to those incidents which result from the unsafe use of cryogenic and liquefied gas commodities. These responses may include areas in the development, transportation and end use of the cryogenic/liquefied gas commodities. It is, therefore, to their benefit to be informed of the properties of the commodities involved, necessary precautions to be taken, protective equipment to be used and the disposal of the spent commodities. It is believed by this researcher that future studies could be conducted on similar subjects related to cryogenic and liquefied gas safety. Such studies could encourage further development of the safety standards to be used within the cryogenic and liquefied gas industries. The development and application of such standards would reduce the potential for losses to life and property within the industry, providing a safer environment in which to work.M.S. (Master of Science