Assessment of Oxygen Gas Cylinder and its Safety Awareness Among Cylinder Handlers/Operators in Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Different methods are there to supply oxygen in hospital to different suit, one of which is cylinder supply or cylinder manifolds supply. Oxygen being medical drug is also combustible or has high risks when in high concentration in environment, or where there is slight chance of ignition with hyperbaric oxygen environment. Oxygen cylinder material if magnetic could cause projectile accident in MRI suit. On the other aspect, oxygen in cylinder is in high pressure, there must be proper fixation and leak prevention, if not it could be expulsive. For such avoidance AAGBI has provided guidelines for safety, that are in form of color coding, labeling, hazard warning signs, storage, and handling instructions. The objective is to make gross assessment of oxygen cylinders safety feature and access the practice and know-how of the handlers at Rehman Medical Institute Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan. Methodology: For this cross-sectional study, Total of 138 cylinders were included, available at RMI, Peshawar, with 5 direct contact handlers, the safety feature of cylinders as per AAGBI were recorded on data sheet, and handlers were interviewed for the relevant safety courses and their practices. The data was then analyzed via SPSS version 22.0. Results: It was found that in total of 138, about 99.3% cylinders go under periodic testing and had proper substance identification code, 98.6% had proper cylinder expiry and substance filling dates engraved, and 97.1% had proper warning signs labeled and applied stickers. Conclusion: That handlers that were interviewed were well educated with bachelor's and master's degree, but they lacked relevant safety courses, through their practices were according to AAGBI guidelines. And the cylinders that were evaluated for gross safety features were well according to the standards.

Keywords: Cylinder Supply, medical gas supply system, Cylinder Safety, Cylinder Handling, AAGBI, Color Coding, Oxygen Cylinder