The death of a man at Mulgrave as a result of an explosion outside his home this morning should shock all Victorians into taking immediate action to make their workplaces and equipment as safe as possible.

WorkSafe is investigating the incident which claimed the eighth life in three weeks, General Manager for Operations, Lisa Sturzenegger said.

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

“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.”

It’s the third major incident in Melbourne in five days.

Early yesterday, fuel which escaped from a tanker at a Rowville service station was ignited and threatened a neighbouring hotel before igniting the truck which also exploded, blowing a huge hole in the side of the vehicle. The driver suffered burns and is in hospital.

Last Thursday, a 100m long awning which was 15m across fell from an uncompleted warehouse at Keysborough just after workers went to lunch. No one was hurt.

"In each of these incidents there was the potential for multiple injuries if not deaths,” Ms Sturzenegger said.

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

“When something goes wrong with even routine aspects of work, the consequences are often immediate and can be dreadful.

"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 a valve.

“Thankfully incidents like today’s and yesterday’s are rare but they are a sign that routine tasks can go wrong.

“In what is the busiest time of year for many businesses and workers and with the added distractions of approaching Christmas, holidays and the organisation of all the activities around that, there is a particular need for a high focus on safety in the last few weeks of the year.

“Everyone is entitled to go to work and come home.”

Past incidents involving tradepeople and acetylene gas.

WorkSafe has prosecuted two serious incident involving acetylene explosions this year.

Plumber Michael Ponton was convicted and fined $25,000 at the Frankston Magistrates' Court in May. He pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe workplace and putting people other than employees at risk under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The court was told his van was parked outside his Chelsea Heights home when a build up of acetylene gas was ignited when the central locking was activated around 6am on October 22, 2009.

Kyabram company, Kanga Coolers, was convicted and fined $45,000 in October after an explosion left an apprentice with third degree burns to 35 per cent of his body.

He was performing a service check on a commercial refrigerator in the cellar of Echuca’s Bridge Hotel when the explosion happened on 7 July, 2009.

He suffered third degree burns to his arms, face, back and hands and was flown to the Alfred Hospital where he was in a coma for eight days.

WorkSafe’s investigation found there was a leak in an acetylene gas torch which resulted in a build up of gas, which could not disperse in the poorly ventilated cellar. The gas bubble erupted when the worker lit the torch.