UC Procurement & UC Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) recently released an update regarding Airgas Service Changes related to Liquid Nitrogen for Cryogenic Storage

Service Change Outline

Airgas, UC’s main supplier for liquid nitrogen for cryogenic storage, has notified UC that Airgas delivery drivers can no longer perform certain high-risk functions that fall outside of contracted services. 

Effective November 18, 2022, Airgas drivers can no longer perform these services for high-risk samples/research:

• Connection/disconnection services for high-risk sample applications
• Inventory management for high-risk sample applications
• Filling of open-mouth dewar flasks if they contain samples.

Overview & Background 

Over the years, Airgas drivers have performed many value-added functions for UC laboratories and locations. But, while delivering cylinders and liquid dewars (primarily nitrogen) is central to Airgas’ contracted services, these additional activities fall outside the scope of contracted work.

Recent events and incidents have highlighted the risks and liabilities inherent in these activities and has prompted Airgas to make this change in service policy.

Process & Safety Improvements 

On a positive note, this reassessment has resulted in several process improvements:

• Improved safety of customer liquid nitrogen supply systems
• Awareness of the higher risks associated with cryogenic storage of human samples and equipment and service provision to cryogenic storage applications
• Development of training to mitigate and eliminate higher risks for UC.

Next Steps

Airgas and UC are committed to a smooth and safe transition of these activities. Airgas is working with UC EH&S to develop and implement a plan that includes identifying locations where these services must be transitioned.

EH&S already has a strong foundation of safety training materials to build on, but these resources will be updated and refined in the coming weeks with input from Airgas, the Risk & Safety Training (RST) Center of Excellence and the Occupational Safety Work Group. 

An updated "Liquid Cryogen Safety" training module is available in UC Learning Center. The EH&S Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) webpage has a Cryogen SOP template.

Questions | Contacts

For questions, please contact:

• UC EH&S: Brent.Cooley@ucop.edu
• UC Procurement: Robert.Stueber@ucop.edu