DON’T toss the gas bottle into the car, warns Work Safety commissioner Greg Jones.

He says if liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders are transported incorrectly there’s a high risk of leakage, fire and injury.

“A common source of the injury is in the transportation of the bottles – including seemingly empty gas bottles,” he says.

“Often these are thrown into the passenger foot well or back seat of a car as people drive to swap them.

“Unfortunately most often than not the bottles are not completely empty and vapours can be released. These are dangerous in themselves, but with the recent heat they can also ignite, causing significant injury not only to the driver, but passengers and passers-by who may stop to render assistance.”

He says gas cylinders and bottles should be transported in vehicles with cargo areas open to the air and not inside enclosed cabin space. Where this is not possible, bottles should be secured in an upright position in the boot of a vehicle, rather than in the passenger compartment, and the valve (tap handle) should be firmly closed off.

“It is also important to remember not to transport more than two gas cylinders in an enclosed vehicle and not to leave LPG bottles in an enclosed vehicle unnecessarily,” he says.

“Always keep LPG cylinders cool and away from flames, sparks and heat, especially over summer.

“People can quickly and easily check for gas leakage by spraying soapy water on any suspect connection or hose and watch for bubbles. If in doubt, turn off the gas and have a licensed gas fitter attend to the hose or connection.”

Other safety tips include:

• Ensure valves are turned off firmly when not in use – do not over tighten
• Do not connect or disconnect cylinders near a naked flame
• Do not use LPG in windy conditions
• Check the rubber Bull Nose or O-Ring of the hose that connects the appliances to the LPG cylinder valve is present and also for cracks
• Use the correct type of hose connection – do not make temporary connections
• Check for cracked or damaged hoses and/or damaged gas regulators, which may need replacing
• Check hoses to make sure they have not perished by brushing or spraying on soapy water
• Check hoses for blockages and/or spiders, which may have nested inside during winter.

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