Thousands of workers are unnecessarily placing themselves, and members of the public, at risk by carrying flammable gas cylinders in vehicles in an unsafe manner.
Flammable gas cylinders include those containing oxygen, acetylene, liquefied petroleum gas and propane or butane throwaway-style cylinders.
A recent "blitz" of businesses in the Northern Territory of Australia by the safety regulator found that 60% of trades businesses surveyed were not compliant with the law.
The blitz followed the deaths of two tradesmen in Australia late last year.
The first fatality involved a 24-year old tradesman who died after his work vehicle exploded in Darwin.
The second fatality occurred in Melbourne when a 25-year old tradesman was killed in a similar explosion.
Both explosions were caused because gas was leaking from portable flammable gas cylinders and ignited inside their vehicles.
There have been other reported cases of explosions and in many cases, the ignition source was the vehicle’s electrical system.
So what can you do if you're transporting flammable gas in cylinders?
Gas cylinders should be stored and transported in vehicles with cargo areas open to the air;
Gas cylinders should not be stored inside closed type vehicles;
Ensure the main cylinder valves are tightly closed;
Check that there is no leakage from the main valve area (eg using a gas detector or soapy water test);
Confirm that cylinders are secured in an upright position to prevent them tipping or falling over;
Ensure that cylinders cannot be struck by other objects (eg loose tools and materials);
Ensure that cylinders are always removed from the vehicle before the gas is used; and
Carry at least one 10B dry-powder fire extinguisher in the driver’s cabin.
The best option is to carry cylinders in Open-type vehicles which have cargo areas that are open to the air with unrestricted ventilation.
If the cargo area of your open-type vehicle is fitted with sides (eg utility vehicles), it may retain escaped gas.
Some types of escaped gas will flow and accumulate in low, enclosed, and poorly ventilated areas.
If you are not sure if your cargo area may allow gas to accumulate, assume it can and consider installing vents in these areas.
Flammable gas cylinders should not be carried inside closed-type vehicles including vans or other vehicles that have cargo areas with restricted natural air movement and ventilation.
Flammable gas cylinders should also not be carried in vehicles under canopies, inside service bodies or toolboxes, and vehicles where cylinders are covered by tarps or tonneau covers.
If you cannot avoid using a closed-type vehicle, it should be fitted with a separate gas storage cabinet that is vapour-tight from the rest of the vehicle.
The gas cabinet must be secured to the vehicle and be big enough to store all cylinders carried in the vehicle, including empty cylinders.
It must be designed to ensure gas from leaking cylinders cannot accumulate inside the cabinet but is vented to the atmosphere outside the vehicle.
The cabinet door must be securely sealed whenever cylinders are stored in the cabinet.