In the past, they directed hospitals to store full oxygen cylinders separate from those that were less than full. In this case, less than full included both partial and empty cylinders.

Past Oxygen Cylinder Storage Guidelines

Hospitals had a choice to use two or three racks. For example, the two rack option included one with full cylinders and the second with both partial and empty combined. The three rack system included one rack for full, one for partial, and a third for empty. Most organizations chose the 2-rack route.

New Oxygen Cylinder Guidelines

But recently, TJC revised that guidance and now states, “Those cylinders defined as empty by the organization shall be segregated from all other cylinders that are intended for patient use. Full and partially full cylinders are permitted to be stored together.” What does this mean to you?

Storing full and partially full cylinders together violates TJC compliance guidelines.

If you use a two rack system storing partially empty and completely empty cylinders together, you need to take steps to properly label and segregate the cylinders from each other. If you use a three rack system, you need to label the cylinders to ensure they don’t get grouped together.

Stay compliant. Label your cylinders. United Ad Label provides durable tyvek bands for hard to mark Oxygen Cylinders. They are highly visible and designed to help you maintain TJC compliance.

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