Following a recent incident the Department has concerns regarding work practices in emergency breakdown situations for vehicles carrying unodourised liquefied petroleum (LP) gas. Especially in remote or rural areas away from appropriately trained maintenance workers.
During an inspection in a regional centre, a tanker containing unodourised LP gas residue, was observed parked-up on a side road in a major industrial area. A local mechanic was repairing the vehicle in the driver’s presence, undertaking hot work on wheel-bearings which had been overheating.
The hot work was being done without a hot work permit, an established exclusion zone and continuous gas monitoring.
Note: The transport of unodourised LP gas must comply with special provision AU03 of Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail (ADG Code). Part of this provision requires that properly calibrated and operational gas monitors be used to monitor atmosphere for presence of unodourised LP gas in the vicinity of the load.
The vehicle’s gas monitors were not charged and there were no records of readings taken at the vehicle’s last stop as required by special provision AU03. The mechanic also had no hazardous areas awareness training.