FACTS

1. There are a variety of ways in which workers and people in the proximity of compressed gas can be harmed. 

• Asphyxiation – Sometimes, compressed gas escapes its container, which can happen suddenly and quickly turn overwhelming.
• Chemical Burns – In many cases, compressed gas is corrosive and can result in substantial skin damage.
• Explosions and Fires – Compressed gas can be ignited by contact with a flame or spark of electricity.
• High-Pressure Accidents – Various injuries can be caused by the substantial amount of pressure that builds up inside a container and can cause objects to be released with great pressure.

1. There are several types of compressed gases that can cause accidents that lead to very serious injuries. 
   

• Acetylene
• Argon
  
• Butane
• Ethylene
  
• Helium
• Hydrogen
  
• Methylamine
• Nitrogen
  
• Oxygen
• Vinyl chloride 
  

STATS

• Experienced construction industry workers are well aware of the significant danger presented by pressurized gas cylinders. These accidents are so common that the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 20 deaths and 6,000 injuries occur due to compressed gas accidents each year. 
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 10 deaths and 3,920 injuries related to pressurized containers in 2016. The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights found 27 occupational hazards related to compressed gases in the 115th Congress.