In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about comingling oxygen cylinders.
Q: I am a consultant and I have a hospital that was cited by the Joint Commission for comingling full and not-full E-size oxygen cylinders on a rack located on the loading dock. Do you think there is a chance for clarification here?
A: It depends. NFPA 99 (1999) section 4-3.5.2.2 (2) says empty cylinders must be segregated from full cylinders when stored. That is a requirement. There must be some type of demarcation that clearly delineates where the full cylinders are and where the empty cylinders are. But it doesn’t really address the partially full cylinders — those that are not full but are not empty either.
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