instruction manual. There you will find complete,
" D O N OT U S E OX Y G E N T O P U R G E
up-to-date instructions for maintaining the equipment.
OXYGEN SYSTEMS."
To aid in preventing leaks or material failure, do
Safety Precautions
not over torque liquid oxygen system tubing and
fittings. Pay close attention to torque values.
Hazards to personnel handling liquid oxygen are
due primarily to its extremely cold temperature. LOX
Protective Clothing
can freeze and seriously damage skin tissue on contact.
The effect is similar to frostbite or thermal burns. Use
Because of the hazards involved, you must wear
great caution when filling warm containers, because
the following protective clothing when working with
vigorous boiling, splashing, and evaporation (rapid
LOX:
expansion) will occur.
A face shield or safety goggles. Always wear
The following safety precautions must be followed
eye protection when working with LOX. Safety
by all personnel working with liquid oxygen.
glasses with side shields are acceptable.
Keep work areas and equipment free of oil,
Gloves. Always wear gloves when handling any
grease, or any other combustible material.
equipment that is, or may have been, in recent
Avoid spilling LOX on floor or deck areas. In
contact with LOX. Leather welder's gloves
case of accidental spillage, thoroughly ventilate
should be loose fitting so that they can be quickly
the area.
removed if LOX should get into them. Always
wear protective gloves when handling purging
Immediately extinguish any fire near equipment
units as well.
containing LOX. Use normal fire-fighting
Coveralls. Always wear protective clothing
methods. Any flow of oxygen must be stopped
by closing valves, if possible. Use a strong
(coveralls, explosive ordinance handlers, cotton
stream of water to divert free-flowing LOX away
sateen, fire resistant, MIL-C-14610). Wear
from combustibles.
cuffless sleeves and trouser legs over the tops of
gloves and shoes.
Place a clean drip pan (made of stainless steel,
Aprons. Always wear an apron made of
aluminum, or copper) under outlet (overflow)
impermeable cotton duck coated with rubber.
vents of servicing units, samplers, etc. You take
Tie the apron in a such a way that it will be easy
this precaution to prevent the contact of spilled
to remove in case of an emergency.
LOX with oil, grease, or other material that may
be in the surrounding area.
Shoes. Always wear special LOX boots (shoes,
When transferring LOX, do not leave valves
s a f e t y, m o l d e r s , c o n g r e s s s t y l e , b l a c k ,
MIL-S-82245). This boot is designed to be
open all the way. You should initially open
easily removed in an emergency.
valves wide, and then immediately close them
about one-quarter turn. Otherwise, the valves
Clothing that is splashed by LOX must be removed
may freeze in the open position.
immediately and thoroughly aired for at least 1 hour.
Disconnect filling or transfer lines as soon as the
The requirements for protective clothing are
transfer process is completed.
outlined in Aviation Crew Systems Oxygen Equipment,
NAVAIR 13-1-6.4.
Do not leave LOX in a closed container or
trapped in a line between two valves. Always
LOX CONTAMINATION
open a valve at one end to prevent the buildup of
excessive pressure.
LOX generating plants that produce oxygen for the
Navy must meet high standards of purity in their
Do not introduce moisture into a LOX system.
product. Oxygen supplied to the Navy must contain a
When connecting or disconnecting the filler
minimum of 99.5% pure oxygen. Initial purity
valve nozzle, ensure that it is free of moisture.
standards are set very high to compensate for the small
Purge piping and equipment with dry, oil-free
amount of contamination that may occur during
nitrogen, Type I, Grade A, Fed. Spec BB-N-411.
handling, transfer, and storage.
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