OVER 60% of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration businesses in Australia's Northern Territories are reported to be breaching transportation of flammable gas regulations.
The regulating authority, NT Worksafe has slammed the complacency of Australian companies following the deaths of two refrigeration engineers due to explosions in their vans just before Christmas last year.

On December 16 a 24-year-old refrigeration mechanic was killed when his work van, which contained oxyacetylene cylinders, exploded in the driveway of his home in a suburb of Darwin. The explosion also caused extensive damage to the house and damage to surrounding properties.The investigation is still ongoing but preliminary findings from the NT Worksafe investigation showed the probable cause of the explosion was a build-up of flammable gas in the van.

Four days earlier, a 25-year-old tradesman was killed in similar circumstances in Melbourne when his work van, which also contained flammable gas cylinders, exploded. In 2009, two young apprentice plumbers in Victoria escaped serious injury when their employer's work van, which contained oxyacetylene cylinders, exploded when they activated the van's keyless entry.

Worksafe executive director Laurene Hull said that many businesses in the air-conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing repair services were ignoring the dangers and continuing to place the lives of their workers at risk. 'In the first four months of 2012, NT Worksafe has issued prohibition notices to more than 60% of those businesses we have attended to check on this situation,' she said.

'Despite intense media coverage over the deaths of two young tradesmen within the same week last December, inspections conducted by NT Worksafe Inspectors have shown companies are still transporting and storing flammable gas cylinders in enclosed work vans.'

Strict regulations apply to carrying oxyacetylene and other flammable gases in vehicles. Readers should check safety regulations in their own countries and regions for further information.

Australian readers can access their latest safety notice here: http://www.worksafe.nt.gov.au/SafetyAlerts/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=17