Summary Statement
Images of an oxygen cylinder that exploded along with a description of the factors that led to the incident.
Airgas-Safecore
- Improper methods used to render scrap cylinder unserviceable
- Unsafe modifications to cylinder design
Accident Profile
- Two individuals (ages 42 and 60) found a liquid oxygen cylinder that had been removed from service and left at a scrap metal dealer
- The individuals were self-employed in scrap metal cutting operations and intended to use the cylinder in their work
- The individuals had access to a liquid oxygen supplier where cylinder ownership would not be questioned
- Jury-rigging fill connections, the first attempt to fill the cylinder resulted in rapid venting through the Pressure Relief Device (PRD)The PRDs were removed and plugged
- The cylinder was filled while onboard a pickup truck
- The cylinder, which had no vacuum, was now unable to vent excess pressure
- While being transported down a busy highway, the pickup truck experienced a flat tire
- Shortly thereafter, the cylinder exploded with the results shown in the following slides
![Photo of Truck](/record/document/1676/1.jpg)
![Photo of Truck](/record/document/1676/2.jpg)
Pickup and cylinder remains
![Photo of Pickup and cylinder remains](/record/document/1676/3.jpg)
Cylinder top
![Photo of Cylinder top](/record/document/1676/4.jpg)
Cylinder outer shell, bottom
![Photo of Cylinder outer shell, bottom](/record/document/1676/5.jpg)
Cylinder bottom shell
![Photo of
Cylinder bottom shell](/record/document/1676/6.jpg)
PRD location was plugged using a threaded cap
![Photo of PRD location was plugged using a threaded cap](/record/document/1676/7.jpg)
![Photo of PRD location was plugged using a threaded cap](/record/document/1676/8.jpg)
Both inner and outer shells separated at bottom welds
![Photo of Both inner and outer shells separated at bottom welds](/record/document/1676/9.jpg)
Cylinder exploded at 12:40 PM while transport vehicle was parked on busy Interstate highway
![Photo of location of accident](/record/document/1676/10.jpg)
The blast blew one individual across 5 lanes of traffic. The other was blown approximately 40 feet. Both survived
![](/record/document/1676/11.jpg)
Cylinder flew approximately ΒΌ mile before plunging through the roof of an apartment, severing a main natural gas line and coming to rest in the living space
![Photo of damage](/record/document/1676/12.jpg)
Despite heavy damage, no injuries to apartment tenants were reported
![Photo of damage](/record/document/1676/13.jpg)
Apartment interior
![Photo of damage](/record/document/1676/14.jpg)
Note that the media reported the event as a Butane cylinder explosion
![Photo of News Article](/record/document/1676/15.jpg)