[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