For proper safety practice, what step should always be taken before using a gas cylinder?

The correct step to take before using a gas cylinder is to carefully inspect the label and connections. This is crucial for ensuring safety because the label provides essential information about the gas type, its hazards, and handling instructions. Proper identification helps prevent the risk of using the wrong gas, which can lead to dangerous situations, including fires, explosions, or health risks.

Additionally, checking the connections ensures that there are no leaks or damage to the fitting between the cylinder and the equipment being used. Any issues found during this inspection could potentially lead to gas leaks, which can be hazardous to both the user and the environment. By prioritizing the inspection of the label and connections, operators can ensure safe handling and use of gas cylinders.

While inspecting the cylinder's color or ensuring the regulator works are also important safety practices, they do not provide the same level of critical information regarding the specific gas and its handling as examining the label and connections does. Weighing the cylinder for gas content is less practical in many situations and is not a standard step before use.