Scuba tank explosion - man loses hand

[Kevin Carlisle]

Ok thanks.

I read it to mean the hydro/viz was current and not expired. I don't think it meant the tank was in the midst of a hydro procedure.

 

[Walter]

One post said the cylinder was in test. If they were doing a hydro shouldn't it be in a protective vault so to speak?

The most recent hydro test the tank had undergone was not expired. They weren't actually doing a hydro test at the time. A tank that ruptures during hydro doesn't explode. That's why the test is done with water and not air.

 

[Sas]

I read it to mean the hydro/viz was current and not expired. I don't think it meant the tank was in the midst of a hydro procedure.

Yes, you're right, that is what I meant.

I have not heard if it was steel or al yet, but probably al I guess as that is what most places up that way seem to rent.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

well at least he didn't say "on the other hand."

One exploding tank isn't likely to change the dive industry I'd think.

I wish him a speedy recovery and am dang sorry he lost his hand.

Here in NSW one workplace accident that results in this serious an injury is likely enough to change the regulations re scuba fills that the Local Dive Shops are concerned about the impact it will have on their filling processes!

The expression "in Good hands" is a common one here to indicate confidence in the care one is receiving. I am sure that Pete was pretty stressed by the accident, impact on his friend and employee, impact on his business, legal impact and the media asking questions so nit picking his choice of words seems a bit . This seems a bit entertaining to a number of people here.. I normally have a pretty good sense of humor but I just don't see the humour in this!

A water bath does not really do it, it just makes the resulting accident site wetter.

There are containment systems that can control and redirect the escaping gas in an explosion and contain any shrapnel, but they are spendy and slow down the tank fill process. Due to space considerations they also tend to reduce the number of tanks that can be filled at once.

One approach that works pretty well and is reasonably cost effective, but not always practical in some dive shops is to have the fill whips on one side of a block wall or piece of suitable steel plate and the fill valves and pressure gauges on the other. Then if a tank ruptures, no one will be in the direct path of the blast or fragments.

It is exceedingly rare (literally a several million to one occurence) for a properly hydro tested and visually inspected tank to fail at any pressure below the test pressure, so it will be interesting to hear what caused this tank to fail. My suspicion is that:

1. Someone screwed up in the hydro testing or visual inspection process, or
2. The tank was subjected to excessive heat - as in a fire or in a refinishing process involving heat over about 300 degrees F.

Number 2 is a subset of 1 as a refinsihed aluminum tank should always be considered suspect and the the owner questioned in detail about the refinishing process used. If any doubt exists, a new hydro test should be done.

I have been told that a tank set in a properly constructed water filled filling trough reduces the build up of heat during filling and absorbs some of the power of potential explosion but I am no expert ...


Yes in Australia the expression "The tank is in test" means it has been tested and the time frame covered by that test has not expired.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Yes, you're right, that is what I meant.

I have not heard if it was steel or al yet, but probably al I guess as that is what most places up that way seem to rent.

All I heard was that it was an alloy tank... Did you hear if it was one of their rental tanks or filling a customer's tank? I am sure Workcover will be talking to whoever Hydro'd that tank ...

Workcover likes to share the blame with as many sources as possible. I am glad to hear Murry was not filling an out of test tank as that would have had a significant impact on compensation amounts. He would have been held partially to blame and compensation would have been reduced. This is a terrible thing for anyone to go through.

 

[Walter]

I have been told that a tank set in a properly constructed water filled filling trough reduces the build up of heat during filling

I've been told that too, but it isn't really effective. It looks good on paper and many shops still do it.

 

[Sas]

Here in NSW one workplace accident that results in this serious an injury is likely enough to change the regulations re scuba fills that the Local Dive Shops are concerned about the impact it will have on their filling processes!

Yea this is true. QLD scuba diving is heavily regulated and it doesn't seem to take much to increase that.

The expression "in Good hands" is a common one here to indicate confidence in the care one is receiving. I am sure that Pete was pretty stressed by the accident, impact on his friend and employee, impact on his business, legal impact and the media asking questions so nit picking his choice of words seems a bit . This seems a bit entertaining to a number of people here.. I normally have a pretty good sense of humor but I just don't see the humour in this!

I don't know... it was mentioned at the same time that the person said he was conscious and joking around. I have a friend who lost a hand and part of his forearm and was cracking jokes along those lines from day one. Sometimes humor can be a distraction so I guess his comment could go either way.

 

[mike_s]

One exploding tank isn't likely to change the dive industry I'd think.

.

maybe not. but 12 will.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Yea this is true. QLD scuba diving is heavily regulated and it doesn't seem to take much to increase that.



I don't know... it was mentioned at the same time that the person said he was conscious and joking around. I have a friend who lost a hand and part of his forearm and was cracking jokes along those lines from day one. Sometimes humor can be a distraction so I guess his comment could go either way.

Yeah Queensland is the most regulated from what I hear but not surprising considering the amount of diving there by locals and tourists. I sure wouldn't be surprised if this resulted in more regulations/inspections there as well as here in NSW your observation for Victoria would be more accurate than mine.

Some of the courses I teach we go into Workcover regulations, workplace safety, investigations and so on so I am relatively up on those aspects for NSW in particular and some of the national stuff.

I just find the focus on Pet's choice of words a little offputting. He and his brother inherited the business from their Dad a couple years ago. They would have grown up around Murry so the impact of all this will be rough on many levels and I think there are more important things we can focus on learning from this.

 

[Chugwhump]

I await further details on the accident.

I expect this board will explode with water/no water during fills.

Chug