Dear Abbe,
We just moved into a new building and found out that gas cylinders for our instruments are being delivered to a “cylinder corral” near the loading dock. Unfortunately, the cylinders are not chained or restrained in any way. Should I worry about this and start rattling the cages?
Anxious in Amherst
Dear Anxious,
It's always good to be concerned, as long as you don't devolve into dangerously cantankerous. That is my specialty. I can get pretty persnickety and violently verbose even if the provocation is mostly imaginary. You should worry though. These tanks can create quite a commotion if they fall and the valve is knocked off. I remember once when a testing van was at Abbe Labs running air quality tests. The tanks in the van were not secured, and another vehicle bumped the van while pulling in. Once the tank fell, and the top popped off – Mist! The tank acted like a missile, flying all over inside, bouncing off every wall. From the outside, it looked like a rodeo bull riding event. Needless to say, the van was permanently rearranged and nonfunctional after that.
Need someone to get cantankerous for you? Need creative ways to express your disdain? Contact Herr Abbe through his much calmer assistant at johnshields59@gmail.com.
