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LPG forklift truck fire risk
8 June 2023
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released a Safety Notice regarding the fire risk around liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered forklift trucks and other similar vehicles.
What happened?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is聽aware of a number of fires that have occurred on, and around, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered forklift trucks and other similar vehicles during the starting of the vehicles.
What was the issue?
The HSE investigations identified that the build-up of deposits in fuel systems, in particular, the vaporiser units of LPG-powered vehicles has led to a number of fires.
Deposits in vaporiser units, flow regulators and shut-off valves cause the truck to fail to start, particularly from the cold. The build-up of deposits can lead to sticking valves and the mixture supplied to the engine being too rich to be ignited.
Repeated starting attempts can result in the release of unburned LPG聽which, in extreme cases can be ignited, setting fire to the vehicle and surrounding materials.
Action to be taken
Departments that own or manage forklift trucks at UCL must:
- Review the Safe System of Work in relation to the use of all LPG-powered lift trucks and similar vehicles and ensure the lessons from this alert are embedded in the protocols to follow if the machine fails to start.
- Ensure the maintenance and servicing of these vehicles are up to date and they are in good working order.
- Ensure periodic, recorded user checks are carried out by forklift truck operators.
- Provide any staff that work with or around these machines with information, instruction and training about the hazards raised in this alert.
- Park LPG forklift trucks or similar vehicles in well-ventilated areas free from flammable materials.
For those that operate forklift trucks at UCL:
- If the vehicle does not start within the normal few seconds, do not聽continue to turn (crank) the engine over using the starter.
- Do not聽repeat the normal engine starting procedure.
- Do not聽spray volatile agents into the air intake in an attempt to aid starting.
- Get off the vehicle and close the shut-off valve to isolate the gas supply.
- Quarantine the vehicle from use to prevent further starting attempts.
- Ensure the area is well-ventilated.
- Do not聽attempt to solve or repair the problem yourself, follow the correct escalation procedure for reporting faulty or damaged equipment.
Where can I get further information?
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