The Denver Regional Office brought to our attention a fatal accident involving a 20-pound propane cylinder regulator that broke off when the cylinder fell. The regulator was vulnerable to this kind of damage because it protruded past the cylinder’s protective collar. Using unguarded regulators on propane cylinders appears to be a common practice on construction sites. A construction worker who did not receive job-related training entered a manhole with a 20-pound Department of Transportation (DOT) approved propane cylinder with a “Big Bertha” blowtorch assembly attached. While attempting to melt ice in the manhole, the employee placed the cylinder on a step of a portable ladder. The cylinder fell from the ladder and the regulator hit the floor of the manhole. The regulator broke free from the cylinder’s main valve assembly, releasing gas and liquid propane into the manhole. The gas in the manhole ignited, resulting in a fire that caused the worker’s death.
