OSHA warns against propane tank modification
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Washington, DC, has issued a special warning that a common alteration to propane gas tanks can be deadly in the workplace.
The hazard is most commonly seen on construction sites, according to a recent hazard information bulletin from OSHA. Workers create a serious fire hazard when they attach a regulator outside the protective collar surrounding the neck of the propane tank. The protective collar is designed to prevent damage to the valve, but workers sometimes attach extensions that leave the regulators vulnerable if the tank is dropped or struck by a heavy object.
Worker’s death triggered warning
OSHA issued the urgent warning after the death of a man was traced to the use of a regulator extension. The worker had entered a confined space to clear ice from a manhole by using a blowtorch, and the 20-pound propane cylinder accidentally fell. The regulator and extension detached from the valve, releasing the propane into the confined space.
OSHA regulations require that propane tanks be left outside buildings and confined spaces in most cases. The standards also require attaching the regulator directly to the tank valve and using a protective collar.
For the full text of the hazard information bulletin, go to the OSHA Internet site at http://www.osha.gov. The bulletin is titled "Attaching an Unguarded Blowtorch Regulator to a Portable Propane Cylinder," and it is listed under "Other OSHA Documents."
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