A CO2 cylinder can be very dangerous if improperly handled or stored.
Pressurized carbon dioxide has a number of uses, in commercial businesses, industry, and even recreational. Pressurized CO2 systems are used in everything from fire extinguishers, beer brewing equipment, soda fountains, paint ball guns and even freshwater fish tanks. However, the cylinders, tanks and bottles that contain this gas must be handled with care to avoid serious injuries or even death.
Tank Leakage
CO2 tanks may leak if improperly stored or handled. Carbon dioxide cannot be detected by the human senses, as it has no taste, odor or visible appearance. Carbon dioxide replaces oxygen in air, meaning that as a room fills with carbon dioxide, the air becomes less and less breathable. Eventually, an undetected carbon dioxide leak can cause suffocation and death.
Overfilling
Another potentially dangerous situation is an overfilled tank. An overly full tank poses a serious risk to anyone in the area. Depending on the tank's size, its safety valve is designed to only handle a certain amount of gas. When pressure exceeds the valve's capacity, the valve will burst, causing a leak and potentially injuring anyone nearby with shrapnel.
Explosion Hazard
Like almost any pressurized gas, carbon dioxide runs the risk of explosion if the cylinder is pierced or otherwise ruptured. This explosion may be limited to the immediate area around the cylinder, but may also produce dangerous, and potentially deadly, metal shrapnel.
Burns and Blistering
The improper use of, or an accident involving, a CO2 fire extinguisher can lead to serious physical harm. The "snow" produced by a CO2 fire extinguisher can cause painful burns and blisters on human skin if exposed. Should the extinguisher's cylinder rupture, not only can potentially deadly shrapnel be produced by the explosion, but the "snow" may also disperse, causing the aforementioned burns.
Tags: carbon dioxide, fire extinguisher, potentially deadly
