[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71668-71669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34405]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research and Special Programs Administration
[Notice No. 98-11]
Safety Advisory: Unauthorized Marking of Compressed Gas Cylinders
AGENCY: Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), DOT.
ACTION: Safety advisory notice concerning unsafe cylinders.
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SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that RSPA is investigating the
unauthorized marking of high-pressure compressed gas cylinders by Fire
Protection Service (FPS), in Canton, Ohio. RSPA has determined that FPS
has marked cylinders indicating they
[[Page 71669]]
had been retested when they had not been retested.
Failure to properly conduct hydrostatic retests can result in
unsafe cylinders being returned to service. Serious personal injury,
death, and property damage could result from the rupture of a cylinder.
Cylinders that have not been retested in accordance with the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR) may not be charged or filled with a
hazardous material for transportation in commerce.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: N. Stewart Skeggs, Hazardous Materials
Enforcement Specialist, Central Region, telephone (847) 294-8580, Fax
(847) 294-8590, Office of Hazardous Materials Enforcement, Research and
Special Programs Administration, Department of Transportation, 2350
East Devon Avenue, Suite 136, Des Plaines, IL 60018.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During an inspection at Fire Protection
Service (FPS), 1022 Dueber Avenue, S.W., Canton, Ohio, RSPA determined
that FPS had marked an undetermined number of cylinders as having been
properly retested in accordance with the HMR without retesting the
cylinders as required. RSPA also determined that FPS had marked
cylinders as tested in accordance with the HMR without holding a
Retester Identification Number (RIN) issued by RSPA as required by the
HMR.
Failure to properly conduct hydrostatic retests can result in
cylinders that should be condemned being returned to service. Serious
personal injury, death, and property damage could result from rupture
of a cylinder. Cylinders that have not been retested in accordance with
the HMR may not be charged or filled with a hazardous material.
RSPA has determined that FPS had been servicing cylinders without
holding a RIN since at least 1993. In addition, the condition of the
retest equipment at FPS indicated to the inspectors that FPS had not
been capable of hydrostatically retesting cylinders for quite some
time. Because FPS failed to keep accurate retest and reinspection
records, it is impossible to determine the number of cylinders that FPS
has marked without retesting, or has retested without possessing a
valid RIN.
Some cylinders serviced by FPS may be marked on their shoulders
with the month and year of alleged hydrostatic retest dates (for
example, 3-98). Any person who has a cylinder that was last serviced by
FPS should not charge or fill the cylinder without first having it
inspected and retested by a DOT-authorized retest facility. Filled
cylinders (if filled with an atmospheric gas) described in this safety
advisory should be vented or otherwise properly and safely evacuated
and purged, and taken to a DOT-authorized cylinder retest facility for
visual reinspection and retest to determine if they qualify for
continued use in accordance with the HMR.
Under no circumstances should a cylinder described in this safety
advisory be filled, refilled or used to contain a hazardous material
until it has been requalified by a DOT-authorized retest facility. It
is further recommended that persons finding or possessing cylinders
described in this safety notice contact Mr. Skeggs for further
information.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 22, 1998.
Alan I. Roberts,
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. 98-34405 Filed 12-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
