New Safety Device to Cut Kiwi Gas Cylinder Deaths

Press Release                                                                                       October 22, 2009

New Safety Device to Cut Kiwi Gas Cylinder Deaths

A new gas safety product has been developed to help save the dozens of Kiwis injured or killed in gas cylinder accidents every year.

The Gas Safety Gauge which was engineered in New Zealand connects between the gas cylinder and appliance hose & regulator. When it detects a sudden change in pressure, it automatically shuts off the gas - preventing injury to those around it should a major leak occur.

Black & Stone Managing Director Graham Brake who manufactures the product says there has been 29 fatalities and 411 injuries in New Zealand from LPG cylinder accidents in the past 16 years and this number is increasing annually.

Of particular concern to Brake is the sobering 100% increase in the number of injury-causing accidents, and the number of people injured over the last five years compared to previous years.

The New Zealand Fire Service’s Principal Advisor on Fire Risk Management, Alan Merry, says Kiwis need to adopt a number of simple safety precautions around barbeques.

“Check the barbeque gas cylinder. A gas cylinder must not be refilled if it hasn’t been tested for over 10 years or if the cylinder has been damaged,” he says.

Merry says it’s also important to check the hose to make sure it has not perished and to ensure the gas connections are tight and leak free before using the barbeque, especially if the barbeque has been left idle for some time.

“An easy way to check for leaks is to put dishwashing liquid at the top end of the hose where it connects to the gas cylinder,” says Merry.  “If it starts foaming it means you have a leak and you need to have it checked by a professional before using it.”

Merry says many gas cylinder injuries are preventable and gas users need to maintain cylinders.  When using a barbeque, the NZFS recommends the following:

Keep looking when you are cooking
Don’t drink and fry.  Have a drink once you’ve sat down to eat
Do not add flammable liquid to an already lit fire
Never barbeque in enclosed areas.  Excessive amounts of carbon monoxide could be produced
Dispose of hot coals properly – douse them with plenty of water and stir them to ensure that the fire is out.  Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers
 
Remember:

Outdoor gas appliances should never be used indoors.  This includes patio heaters, barbeques and camping cookers
Always check the manufacturer’s instructions before using any gas appliance
 
Brake says an additional way to maintain help prevent a gas cylinder accident is to install a Gas Safety Gauge to automatically cut off major gas leaks.

For more information visit www.blackandstone.co.nz  

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