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Following is the question by the Hon Ho Chung-tai and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (March 12):

Question:

It was reported that a 200-odd-pound compressed gas cylinder containing compressed gases commonly known as refrigerants, and used for maintenance of central air-conditioning units, fell to the ground from a height in Stanley Street, Central. Some experienced air-conditioning mechanics suspected that the incident was caused by exposure of the cylinder to strong sunlight or mistakes in operating the cylinder, leading to the leakage of refrigerants from the cylinder and the consequential fall of the cylinder to the ground.

In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of incidents caused by compressed gas cylinders in each of the past three years;

(b) of the connection of refrigerants with the above incident; and

(c) whether, to prevent accidents, the authorities will strengthen their efforts to educate the relevant trade on the proper ways to handle compressed gas cylinders?

Reply :

Madam President,

(a) Compressed gas cylinders are generally used in industries to store compressed gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene, freon (commonly known as refrigerant), etc.

The Labour Department keeps industrial accident statistics involving explosion or fire but does not have specific records of industrial accidents involving compressed gas cylinders. As regards fatal accidents, the records kept by the Labour Department indicated that in 2000, there were three workers killed in a gas explosion involving the use of acetylene cylinders in a gas welding workshop. In 2001 and 2002, there was no fatal accident involving compressed gas cylinders.

According to the Fire Services Department's records in the past three years, the number of incidents of gas leakage or fire involving compressed gas cylinders is as follows:

Year Number of incidents of gas leakage or fire

involving compressed gas cylinders

  2000                     118

  2001                     149

  2002                      93

Apart from the above records, the Fire Services Department does not have other records of accidents involving compressed gas cylinders.

(b) According to investigation by the Labour Department, the incident occurred when a gas cylinder was being used to collect refrigerant from a chiller plant of the central air-conditioning system on the roof of a building. In doing so, the gas cylinder suddenly burst open at its bottom, causing it to ricochet off the roof and eventually plunge onto the street below. The accident was mainly due to the lack of proper maintenance of the gas cylinder involved. It failed to withstand the pressure of the refrigerant at the time of the incident.

(c) The storage and conveyance of compressed gas cylinders are under the jurisdiction of the Fire Services Department (FSD) in accordance with the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations (Cap. 295). As regards publicity about the requirements for storage and conveyance of compressed gas cylinders, FSD has maintained close liaison with the trade concerned and issued pamphlets for their reference.

The safe use and handling of compressed gas cylinders at the workplace are under the purview of the Labour Department. In accordance with the General Duties Provisions of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap.59), it is the duty of the proprietor to ensure that adequate information, instruction, training and supervision are provided for his employees on the proper use and handling of compressed gas cylinders. Proprietors have also been advised of their general duties and the safety precautions in respect of the use and handling of compressed gas cylinders by the Occupational Safety Officers of the Labour Department during routine inspections to their workplaces.

End/Wednesday, March 12, 2003

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