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LPG notifiable accidents
[ Last Updated 3 May 2010 ]
This is the 5 LPG notifiable accidents for which the investigation was completed between October and December 2009.
1 - Event summary: The District Coroner sought Energy Safety's assistance with an investigation into the death of a male with high levels of carboxyhaemoglobin in a sample of his blood who had been found deceased two months previously in a caravan supplied with LPG.
| Event ID |
090819 01 |
| Event date |
19/06/2009 |
| Site |
Public |
| Environment |
Caravan |
| Equipment |
Domestic hotplate (hob) |
| Event |
CO Poisoning (Incomplete Combustion) |
| Casualty |
Fatality |
| Injury |
Asphyxiation, Toxicity |
| Property damage level |
No property damage |
| Outcome of investigation |
The cooker was in extremely poor condition. Tests with combustion analyser indicated that high levels of carbon monoxide were given off as a result of malfunctioning of a griller. Lack of ventilation in caravan was considered to be a contributory factor. |
2 - Event summary: Apparent exposure to products of combustion (CO) associated with use of LPG cabinet heater.
| Event ID |
090923 03 |
| Event date |
9/09/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Space heater cabinet heater |
| Event |
CO Poisoning (Incomplete Combustion) |
| Casualty |
Injury |
| Injury |
Toxicity |
| Property damage level |
No property damage |
| Outcome of investigation |
CO exposure can not be ruled out as symptoms consistent with exposure to CO were reported. However, on the evidence available, it can not be established that there was a significant exposure to CO. A blood test was not taken and heater testing did not indicate abnormal operation. Operation in a relatively small space may have been a factor. |
3 - Event summary: The owner noticed smoke coming from the top of a two year old cabinet heater soon after lighting it. On investigation she observed flames, about the size of a pen, from the area of the controls. She turned the heater off at the cylinder and the flames extinguished. She then went outside and at the suggestion of a neighbour, contacted the Fire Service. The Fire Service checked the heater, disconnected it from the cylinder and took possession of the heater.
| Event ID |
091006 01 |
| Event date |
4/10/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Equipment |
Space heater cabinet heater |
| Event |
Fire, Explosion |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
Fire evidently resulted from a gas leakage in the area of the heater controls. There had been no previous problems with the heater, but the owner had noticed a distinctive smell when it was operating (which did not occur with a replacement cabinet heater). Leakage at the valve was confirmed in independent testing. The make and model has been withdrawn from sale due to other occurrences of leakage about control valve. |
4 - Event summary: An operator of an LPG fuelled frost protection machine, towed by tractor, was slowly turning to start on new furrow when he heard a gas leakage. He pulled the manual shut off valve and as he did so fire broke out. Fire continued to burn from ruptured gas supply system so the operator lept out of tractor and ran to the road. The Fire Service was called and trucks from three locations attended.
| Event ID |
091006 02 |
| Event date |
6/10/2009 |
| Site |
Rural |
| Environment |
Outside (Above Ground) |
| Equipment |
Other |
| Event |
Fire, Explosion |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
Possible leak in gas supply system. Emergency control valve turned off gas supply to burner but did not stop fire because gas was escaping upstream of valve. |
5 - Event summary: A consumer purchased a 6 burner barbecue some 11 months previously and used it about three times for a short period. He carried out leak tests at the connection point to cylinder with soapy water. On the last occasion of use he turned the cylinder on, closed the door of a cupboard that housed the cylinder, turned two of the burners to a low position then pressed a piezo igniter (which lights both burners). He was enveloped with flames as he did so (and does not know if he actually succeeded in establishing a flame at the burners). He then opened the door to the cupboard where the cylinder was stored and saw a flame, the width of a finger nail and about 2 feet long.
| Event ID |
091218 01 |
| Event date |
13/12/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Outside (Above Ground) |
| Equipment |
Barbecue |
| Event |
Fire, Explosion |
| Casualty |
Injury |
| Injury |
Burn |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
On examination, the regulator diaphragm was found to have ruptured, evidently as a result of a manufacturing defect. The ruptured diaphragm caused gas to escape at cylinder pressure. The barbecue retailer advised that the regulator was from the previous season's stock and that no other similar faults had been reported. |
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