Vacuum pumping hydrogen gas carries significant risk of explosion. This paper examines strategies for minimizing explosion risks when pumping hydrogen gas in the laminar flow range with mechanical vacuum pump systems. Topics addressed include pumping hydrogen concentrations above, below and within explosion limits with various vacuum pump mechanisms and vacuum system configurations. Methodologies are presented to minimize explosion risk which may be applied to a wide variety of flammable applications. Vacuum system performance considerations when pumping low viscosity gases such as hydrogen are also discussed.