Hydrogen is flammable and explosive, and must be handled with care. Hand tools used in the hydrogen shed are either constructed of a special alloy or coated with rubber to reduce the risk of sparks. Most sites in Canada use helium gas to fill upper air balloons. Using hydrogen generated on-site is not only far less expensive (the cost being roughly no more than the cost of electricity and equipment maintenance), but also means that the station need not depend on deliveries of gas cylinders from the mainland.

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