THANKS FOR THIS ALERT I WILL PASS IT ON RON > -----Original Message----- > From: Dunger, Gary [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 10:50 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Alert on Compressed Breathing Air > > DES PLAINES, IL (March 23, 2000) - The American Society of Safety > Engineers (ASSE) today issued an immediate alert to its 33,000 members > notifying them that due to a fatal accident that occurred in Channelview, > Texas last Tuesday, the federal Occupational Safety and Health > Administration is investigating the whereabouts of potentially deadly > cylinders of class D breathing air often used when working in a confined > space. > > In a communication sent to all of its chapters, contacts, and > affiliated safety and health organizations, ASSE President Frank Perry > states that ASSE was notified by OSHA that on March 21 two painters were > wearing sandblast hoods connected to compressed air cylinders that may not > have contained a sufficient amount of oxygen. Following the accident > OSHA's > preliminary tests found that the cylinders had a low level of oxygen. As > a > result, OSHA and the Houston-based manufacturer of the cylinders, > Aeriform, > are requesting that any and all air cylinders marked "compressed air - > breathing" that were purchased within the last three months be tested for > oxygen content prior to being used. Perry also noted that according to > OSHA > any potential cylinders, although purchased and currently only found in > Texas, could be anywhere in the country at this time and should be > checked. > > "We are working with OSHA to get the word out now before any other > tragedies occur," Perry said. > > The air cylinders may not contain a sufficient amount of oxygen > and > could be hazardous. They should be checked for an oxygen level of 19 to 23 > percent by volume. The cylinders were part of lot number C860-2-00-39RS, > which consisted of three clusters of 12 cylinders that were filled at > Aeriform on February 8, 2000. Stenciled at the bottom frame of the > clustered > cylinders are either the numbers 9063 or 9065. Perry stated that since > records of product shipment are apparently incomplete, according to OSHA, > we > are notifying our chapters countrywide of the issue. "We have received a > number of inquiries from our members concerned about this incident," Perry > said. If a cylinder is located OSHA is urging people to contact Aeriform > at > 713-926-3166. >