News & Press Releases

WorkSafe Victoria has issued a safety alert concerning the risk of explosion from leaking portable flammable gas cylinders inside work vehicles.

Workers have died or sustained serious injuries after their work vehicles exploded. These explosions occurred when gas from leaking portable gas cylinders ignited inside the vehicles. In many cases, the ignition source was the vehicle’s electrical system.

Flammable gas cylinders include those containing oxygen, acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas and propane or butane throwaway-style cylinders.

These incidents could have also killed or seriously injured members of the public.

Control measures

Gas cylinders should be stored and transported in vehicles with cargo areas open to the air, and not stored inside closed- type vehicles. When storing or transporting fuel gas cylinders, ensure:

• main cylinder valves are tightly closed

• there is no leakage from the main valve area (eg using an approved leak detection solution)

• cylinders are secured in an upright position to prevent them tipping or falling over

• cylinders cannot be struck by other objects (eg loose tools and materials)

• cylinders are always removed from the vehicle before the gas is used

• at least one 10B dry-powder fire extinguisher is fitted in the driver’s cabin.

Open-type vehicles

Open-type vehicles have cargo areas open to the air with unrestricted ventilation. The cargo areas of some open-type vehicles with sides (eg utility vehicles) can potentially retain escaped gas.

This is due to escaped gas flowing to and accumulating in low, enclosed and poorly ventilated areas. If you are not sure if your cargo area may allow gas to accumulate, assume it can until a competent person determines otherwise.

The cargo area should be assessed by a competent person for its potential to retain gas, and to identify the likely areas where gas could accumulate. Consider installing vents in these areas.

Closed-type vehicles

Closed-type vehicles are vans, utilities and other vehicles that have cargo areas with restricted natural air movement and ventilation. This includes vehicles where gas cylinders are stored under canopies, inside service bodies or toolboxes, and vehicles where cylinders are covered by tarps or tonneau covers.

If you cannot avoid using a closed-type vehicle, it should be fitted with a separate gas storage cabinet that is vapour-tight from the rest of the vehicle.

The gas cabinet must be secured to the vehicle and be big enough to store all cylinders carried in the vehicle, including empty cylinders. It must be designed to ensure gas from leaking cylinders cannot accumulate inside the cabinet but is vented to the atmosphere outside the vehicle. The cabinet door must be securely sealed whenever cylinders are stored in the cabinet.

The cabinet must have:

• one or more permanent vents or drains positioned at the bottom of the cabinet (either floor or side), with an internal         diameter of at least 25mm

• vents located so they cannot be blocked when the cylinders are in the cabinet

• a way of securing cylinders in an upright and stable position (eg straps)

• a visible flammable gas label on the outside

• regular inspections and maintenance of door seals and vents.

Gas cabinets must also be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions. Gas cabinets are available from plumbing wholesalers, gas suppliers and safety equipment suppliers.

Information and training

Ensure workers are informed and trained in procedures for:

• checking and testing for leaking cylinders

• securing cylinders and sealing gas cabinets

• regularly checking cabinet seals and vents

• dealing with damage to the gas cabinet, gas leaks or explosion.

OHS News Australia, March 2012

By Julia Alder, Tuesday 27th March 2012 02:52pm

POTENTIAL OF CARBONATED BEVERAGE SYSTEMS TO CREATE A LIFE-THREATENING ENVIRONMENT

Recently there have been several incidents involving improperly installed or poorly maintained carbonated beverage systems that have created hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in enclosed areas causing restaurant patrons, employees, and first responders to get sick or die.

Carbon dioxide in the gaseous state is colorless and odorless and not easily detectable. Carbon dioxide can be deadly even when normal oxygen levels are present. Reaching hazardous levels of carbon dioxide can occur quickly and without warning and result in serious health effects or death.

Because gaseous carbon dioxide is 1.5 times heavier than air, leaking carbon dioxide can accumulate at floor level in improperly or unventilated rooms not necessarily limited to the container’s location and in low areas, such as basements. Even small slow leaks can cause hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide. Ventilation systems should exhaust from the lowest level and allow makeup air to enter at a higher point to maintain a safe environment.

Potential sources of hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide, when carbon dioxide systems are indoors or in an enclosed outdoor area can include, but are not limited to:

– carbon dioxide storage containers that are not properly vented to a well-ventilated area outside of the building

  not just into walls or ceilings;

– leaking fittings, connections, piping/tubing/hoses or storage container plumbing;

– leaking carbonators, syrup pumps, bag in box (BIB) racks (i.e., any equipment using carbon dioxide); and

– leaking beer keg connections and equipment.

Carbon dioxide detectors with alarm systems should be installed in appropriate areas to detect hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide. Do not depend upon measuring the oxygen content of the air because carbon dioxide can be dangerous even with adequate oxygen for life support.

Carbon dioxide beverage systems, carbon dioxide detectors, and ventilation equipment need to be properly maintained and periodically inspected per the manufacturers’ recommendations. Operators and users should be trained to understand the proper installation and operation of carbon dioxide systems and storage contain- ers as well as the properties and hazards of carbon dioxide as provided in CGA publication CGA G-6, Carbon Dioxide [1].

For more detailed information on the proper installation and maintenance of carbon dioxide supply systems, alarm systems, and carbon dioxide containers at customer sites, refer to the original equipment manufacturers’ instructions and CGA G-6.5, Standard for Small, Stationary, Insulated Carbon Dioxide Supply Systems, and CGA SB-29, Prevention of Injury and Loss from Carbon Dioxide Delivery to Small Customer Sites [2, 3].

To download Safety Alert click here...  

The Compressed Gas Association Announces Safety Alert for Carbonated Beverage Systems (February 17, 2012)