What should you do if a tank is empty or near empty?

Marking a tank as empty and returning it is essential for maintaining safety and efficiency in a medical gas management system. When a tank is empty or near empty, it is vital to identify its status clearly to prevent accidental use, which could lead to a dangerous situation if the tank is expected to deliver gas and fails to do so.

By marking the tank as empty, it communicates to all staff members that the tank should not be used and needs to be replaced. This not only protects personnel from relying on an inadequate gas supply but also ensures that proper protocols for returning tanks to the supplier for refilling are followed. This practice helps to maintain an accurate inventory and ensures that all equipment is functional when needed.

Other choices would pose risks: leaving an empty tank in the work area could lead to confusion or potential hazards, using it until completely depleted could disrupt operations, and refilling it on-site is not a safe practice, as medical gas tanks are typically intended to be filled by trained personnel using specialized equipment to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.