What should not be solely relied upon to identify the contents of a compressed gas container?

The identification of the contents of a compressed gas container is critical for safety and handling procedures. While color can provide some visual cues regarding the type of gas contained, it should not be solely relied upon. The reason for this is that colors can vary widely between manufacturers and may not always adhere to a standardized system. Additionally, colors may fade or be altered over time due to environmental factors, making them unreliable indicators.

In contrast, labels and bar codes provide explicit information about the contents, including the type of gas, its hazards, and instructions for safe handling. Labels are specifically designed to convey critical information in a standardized manner, while bar codes can be scanned to retrieve detailed data from a database. Shape may provide some general hints about the function or type of container, but like color, it is not an effective method for accurate identification.

Therefore, relying solely on color to identify the contents in a compressed gas container poses significant safety risks and is not a best practice in the field.