07:13 pm, Tuesday 15 January, 2013

Photo: SafetyCulture Library

A company has been charged over a gas explosion which killed a tradesman in December 2011.

The Darwin-based company could face fine of up to $650,000 once the Northern Territory Work Health Authority secures a conviction.

According to NT News, the company appeared in Darwin Magistrates Court on Monday and was charged with failing to identify risks to health or safety arising from their own conduct. The charge was laid under provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Act.

The 24-year-old tradie was leaving for work when the accident happened outside his home in Parap. He died from serious injuries when his van exploded in a suspected gas leak.

Pressurised flammable gas cylinders were inside his van during the accident.

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08:51 pm, Tuesday 4 December, 2012

According to authorities an LPG gas bottle exploded inside a Lions food van on Saturday afternoon. The incident happened at a Christmas charity event in the Redlands Showgrounds in Brisbane.

Two charity workers were injured in the incident, a 67-year woman and a 55-year-old man received burns to their legs and bodies.

Both were in a stable condition and transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Firefighters had the resulting fire quickly under control.

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01:34 pm, Thursday 29 March, 2012

Gas explosions have become the cause of some recent injuries and deaths in Australia. In January 2012, a gas bottle explosion almost killed a Newcastle man. A young Darwin tradie was killed in December 2011 when a gas cylinder exploded inside his van.

Incidents caused by gas leak and explosions have prompted Heldon Products Australia Pty Ltd, a manufacturer of refrigeration and air-conditioning components, to develop the Gas Cylinder Plug for gas cylinders.

A Heldon Safety Plug is a special type of plug designed to seal gas cylinders once the hose set has been removed. It is designed to prevent accidents involving deflagration in confined spaces such as service vans and machinery spaces. These plugs are marked clearly with the type of gas and have a swivel and lanyard to attach them to the bottle ahead. A swivel arm is colour coded for the gas type. The Heldon Safety Plug has an O Ring soft seal which allows finger tight sealing and prevents gas escape.

This new product will be manufactured in Heldon’s Melbourne manufacturing plant and is available through distribution across Australia.

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11:54 am, Friday 24 February, 2012

Photo: Bill Hearne Source:
The Daily Telegraph

A worker at a domestic airport suffered burns to his face when an item he was disposing exploded overnight.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the 20-year old victim was disposing of the can into a bin when it suddenly self-ignited.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Michael Corlis said they will try to establish what exactly happened during the incident.

The victim was given first aid by Airport staff and NSW Ambulance officers.

“We are giving him some pain relief and treating those burns to his face and then we’ll take him to St Vincent’s Hospital,” said Inspector Corlis.

“He’s in a stable condition.”

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11:30 am, Tuesday 13 December, 2011

“Make safety improvements today, because tomorrow may be too late.” This was the message of WorkSafe’s news release in relation to yesterday’s fatality from gas explosion.

WorkSafe appealed to all Victorians to take immediate action in making all workplaces and equipment as safe as possible. General Manager for Operations, Lisa Sturzenegger said that WorkSafe is conducting an investigation on the incident which claimed the life of a refrigeration mechanic.

“Gas bottles stored in a vehicle appear to have exploded, but at this stage why that has happened is not clear,” said Ms Sturzenegger.

“WorkSafe will try and determine which product has exploded and whether the van had a special box in which products like acetylene, refrigerant and LPG can be stored safely.

“Our deepest condolences go out to this young man’s family and friends, but also to others who, as a result of this incident are remembering loved ones who did not come home from work.”

This is the third major incident which happened in Melbourne in five days.

Last Sunday, fuel escaped from a tanker at a service station in Rowville and was ignited threatening a nearby hotel. A truck exploded and its driver suffered burns and is in the hospital.

Last Thursday, a 100 metre long awning fell from an uncompleted warehouse at Keysborough just after workers had their lunchbreaks. No one was hurt from the incident.

“The entire community must not only reflect on these incidents but take immediate action to ensure the workplaces they control or work in are safe as reasonably practicable. Do it today because tomorrow might be too late,” Ms. Sturzenegger said.

“For those working with, or transporting dangerous goods, ensure they are properly secured and that those who use them know how to secure them.

“For tradespeople, gas products must be stored in a sealed box which vents outside the vehicle if there is a leak or failure of valve.”

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11:10 am, Monday 12 December, 2011

A refrigeration mechanic died from serious injuries after a van exploded in a suspected gas leak in Melbourne’s south-east this morning.

The victim who was in his mid-20s was leaving for work when the accident happened outside his home at Stadium Circuit at Mulgrave.

Arson and explosives squad Detective Senior Constable Mick Cashman said that witnesses heard a hissing sound before the van exploded . The explosion was so massive that it threw the victim five metres away, blew in windows, and sent car parts flying into houses in the next street. The explosion was even heard as far away as Scoresby and Ferntree Gully. Police had established that the victim had not been in the van at the time of the explosion.

The Age reports that rescuers and paramedics arrived at the scene and found the victim lying unconsciously on the grass. They worked to stabilise him for more than one hour. He suffered from serious “blast-type” injuries to his head, chest and abdomen. He was brought to a hospital but died at around 10 in the morning.

According to Metropolitan Fire Brigade Commander Andrew O’Connell, a leak from one of the tanks containing flammable gas, which were stored at the back of a van, was most likely the cause of the explosion. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the leak and ignition source.

Commander O’Connell also said that 15 houses in the street have been damaged by the explosion. No other person was hurt from the accident.

WorkSafe will conduct its own investigation and will try to determine what caused the blast and how the gas tanks were stored inside the vehicle.

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