WorkCover NSW has issued the following safety alerts relating to filling SCUBA cylinders, the purging of gas installations and safe work on or near public roads.

Filling aluminium SCUBA cylinders

This Safety Alert follows serious injuries to a person while filling an aluminium self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) cylinder in August 2009. The cylinder shattered into pieces.

This is the latest in a number of incidents involving the filling of aluminium SCUBA cylinders manufactured from 6351 alloy. The 6351 alloy was used in:

ALUMINIUM ALLOY CYLINDERS manufactured between 1972 and TO SPECIlCATIONS $/430 DOT E6498, DOT E7042, DOT E8107, DOT E8364, and DOT E8422

AUSTRALIAN MADE ALUMINIUM ALLOY cylinders manufactured before 1991 to AS 1777.

Purging gas installations

A Safety Alert was published following the serious injury of two plumbing apprentices earlier this year while purging the main (natural gas) supply line to a residential tower. Flammable gases from the supply line ignited when released into a plant room of the residential tower block, which contained multiple ignition sources.

The incident serves as an important reminder of the potentially catastrophic results of the uncontrolled release of a flammable gas within a building. It also highlights the necessity for adequate systems to purge large volume gas installations, and any associated appliances, to a safe location on the outside of the building away from potential ignition sources.

Other important factors to be taken into account include the volume of the pipe work, and the fact that natural gas is lighter and liquid petroleum gas is heavier than air.

{Source WorkCover News Issue 79)
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