Construction Injury News

OSHA Warns Against Propane Tank Hazards

Attaching a regulator outside the protective collar surrounding the neck of a propane tank can be deadly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cautions.

The agency recently issued a hazard information bulletin to its compliance officers notifying them that propane tanks commonly found on construction sites may have regulators that extend outside the collars. The protective collar is designed to prevent damage to valves. These extensions leave the regulators --and attached equipment such as blowtorches--vulnerable if the tank is dropped or struck by a heavy object.

In one case, a worker entered a confined space to clear ice from a manhole using a blowtorch with a regulator attached outside the collar of a 20-pound propane cylinder. The cylinder fell, the regulator detached from the valve, and propane was released into the manhole. The propane caught fire inside the confined space, and the worker burned to death.

OSHA regulations require that for most operations, propane tanks be placed outside buildings. When this is not possible, the standards call for regulators to be attached directly to the valve on the tank and protected from damage by a collar or other safeguard. Further, OSHA standards require employees to receive training on how to do their jobs safely. The National Fire Protection Association, which sets voluntary safety standards, also has recommendations covering protection for valves and connections such as regulators as well as requirements for appropriate employee training.

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	Did You Know?
	There are individuals responsible for making sure that the construction site where I work is safe. The property owner and general contractor (and in some cases sub-contractors) are responsible for ensuring the safety of workers at a construction site. The extent of each party's responsibility will vary depending on your case.