With more load shedding on the cards, members of the public are considering alternate ways to keep the lights on.
One of the replacements people are considering is using gas to keep the kitchen going.
ER24 urges people to exercise caution when using gas as the incorrect use of gas can lead to severe injuries, death and damage to property.
ER24 paramedics have attended to incidents in the past involving gas cylinder explosions.
The outcome of these incidents ranged from severe damage to property and patients sustaining burn wounds.
Gas cylinders must be filled or exchanged at a reputable dealer.
Kevin Robertson, the chief executive officer of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Association of South Africa (LPGSASA), says LPGas cylinders are manufactured to extremely high standards, however, incorrect handling or filling could result in failure.
“Ensuring a cylinder is properly maintained is extremely important, this is why all commercially branded cylinders are returned to the depots of the brand owners, where the cylinders can be carefully checked and maintained.
“Cylinders which are illegally filled by someone other than those authorised by the brand owner, can be potentially hazardous,” he says.
A cylinder should only be filled to 80% of its capacity, anything above this means the consumer could be endangered and anything below means the consumer is being cheated.
When purchasing a gas cylinder make sure the logo on the valve seal matches the logo on the cylinder.
“If you purchase your own cylinder you are responsible for its maintenance and can grant permission to a filler to refill it for you. If you pay a deposit on a commercially branded cylinder, the brand owner retains ownership of the cylinder, who is then responsible for the safe maintenance of it and can decide who may or may not fill it,” says Robertson.
If the cylinders are located outdoors and are exchanged by an LPGas supplier or dealer who delivers them, the supplier should check that everything is in a sound state.
“If the cylinders are disconnected and reconnected by the consumer, they should check that the bull nose or ‘o-ring’ is in place and not cracked or brittle, also check that the hose is not perished, cracked or brittle and have the appliance serviced on a regular basis,” he says.
If you smell gas, close the cylinder valve and make sure the area is ventilated.
Check all the connections and if in a sound state try again.
If the smell persists, close the cylinder valve and call your LPGas dealer.
LPGas in its natural state is odourless which is why a stanching agent has been added to it to warn users if there is a leak.
If the homeowner is not sure of the cause, they should contact their dealer, supplier or installer and get them to check for the cause.
If there is a fire or imminent danger, contact the local fire department.
People should not modify or try to repair appliances themselves.
For general or safety-related enquiries about the use of LPGas, contact the LPGas Safety Association on 011 886 9702.
The office hours are 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
In the event of an after-hours emergency, contact the association on 011 886 9702 or 086 01 02 003 and they will provide you with a number to call.
For medical emergencies, ER24 can be reached 24 hours a day on 084 124.
