Which criterion is used to identify compressed gas cylinders in healthcare facilities?

• A. Be color coded in accordance with USDA requirements
• B. Utilize gas specific CGA connections
• C. Be appropriately identified by labels or stencils in accordance with CGA C-7 criteria
• D. Be constructed in accordance with OSHA

Answer: (C)

Identifying compressed gas cylinders with clear, standardized labels or stencils is the key safety practice. In healthcare settings, you must be able to read exactly what gas is inside a cylinder and any associated hazards at a glance. Labels or stencils that meet CGA C-7 criteria provide a uniform, unambiguous way to convey the gas identity, chemical symbol, and hazard information. This standardization reduces the risk of misidentification, which can happen with color coding alone—colors can vary by supplier, be repainted, or get worn off.

Color coding may help, but it isn’t reliable by itself for identifying contents. Gas-specific CGA connections relate to how cylinders are connected to equipment, not to identifying what the cylinder contains. OSHA sets broad safety requirements, but CGA C-7 labeling is the specific method used to identify cylinder contents consistently across manufacturers and facilities.

So, the best practice is to ensure each cylinder is appropriately identified by labels or stencils in accordance with CGA C-7 criteria.