Why is purging necessary?

Purging is necessary primarily for new and contaminated containers to ensure safety and effectiveness in their use. When dealing with gases or liquids in storage or in systems, there is often a need to remove any unwanted contaminants, residual products, or moisture that could interfere with the purity of the materials being used.

New containers may have residues from manufacturing or handling that could compromise the quality of the contents. Contaminated containers must be properly purged to eliminate any harmful substances that could lead to chemical reactions or degradation of product integrity. By ensuring that containers are fully purged, you are preparing them for safe and reliable use, thus enhancing the overall safety of operations involving these materials.

Routine maintenance, proper storage, and cylinder inspections are important practices, but they do not specifically address the critical need to eliminate contaminants or residues present in new or previously used containers, making the selected answer the most relevant in the context of purging necessity.