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LPG notifiable accidents

[ Last Updated 19 January 2010 ]

This is the list of the 5 LPG notifiable accidents for which the investigation was completed between January and March 2009.

1 - Event summary: A gas serviceman advised that his company had been requested to attend following fire involving one of two overhead radiant LPG heaters. He considered that the heaters had been incorrectly installed with no clearance above a heat shield and advised the manufacturer specified a clearance of 500 to 600 mm.
Event ID 080304 01
Event date 22/02/2008
Site Commercial
Environment Overhead radiant heaters external use
Voltage 230
Equipment Hand Held motor operated tools
Event Fire, Explosion
Casualty No casualty
Injury No injury
Property damage level Extended to the room and structure containing the equipment
Outcome of investigation The probable cause of the fire was overheating from and behind the heater, largely because the convective flow of cooling air was impeded by close proximity of the heater to the ceiling and a secondary heat shield that projected from the ceiling.
2 - Event summary: Fire brigade called out after studio in domestic dwelling caught fire when user attempted to light LPG cabinet heater. Heater and cylinder had been purchased only weeks previously.
Event ID 080623 02
Event date 21/06/2008
Site Domestic
Environment Building
Equipment Space heater cabinet heater
Event Fire, Explosion
casualty no casualty
Injury No injury
Property damage level Extended to the room and structure containing the equipment
Outcome of investigation Over fill ruled out as cylinder had been re filled and used with heater for more than half an hour previously. On testing, significant leakage was found at gas feed to centre plaque and pilot burner. This was attributed to a damaged seal ring, possibly by a sharp end of one of the pipes. Leakage may have been intermittent as the manufacturer advised that procedure was to check for leaks after assembly and suggested possible human error in this case. The manufacture advised that procedures had been changed to deburr any sharp edges and that component manufacturer had also been advised of problem.
3 - Event summary: DoL advised of an accident where an employee of roofing contractor had received serious burns after an LPG line blew off the handpiece torch being operated by a co worker.
Event ID 081017 03
Event date 29/09/2008
Site Commercial
Environment Building
Equipment Other
Event Fire, Explosion
Casualty Injury
Injury Burn
Property damage level No property damage
Outcome of investigation Hose had pulled off barb on gas torch, escaping gas igniting and burning victim.
4 - Event summary: The Fire Service reported an explosion from a portable cooking stove.
Event ID 081222 02
Event date 20/12/2008
Site Public
Environment Outside (Above Ground)
Voltage 400
Equipment Camping cooker
Event Fire, Explosion
Casualty Injury
Injury Burn
Property damage level Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment
Outcome of investigation The accident appears to have been caused by overheating. Whether this was the result of upside down trivets or too large a cooking vessel has not been determined.
5 - Event summary: A man was seriously injured after an LPG cooker exploded.
Event ID 090211 02
Event date 09/02/2009
Site Domestic
Environment Building
Equipment Domestic countertop cookers (eg wok burner)
Event Fire, Explosion
Casualty Injury
Injury Burn
Property damage level Restricted to the room containing the equipment
Outcome of investigation User had left gas on too long before igniting it.
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