Gas dangers for RV owners

Two official safety alerts have highlighted the potential risks associated with two types of gas equipment commonly found on camper trailers and caravans.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland recently issued a safety warning after a young worker died when removing a gas strut from a camper trailer. During the removal, the body separated from the shaft of the gas strut and was ejected at high speed, striking him in the head. The fatal incident occured at a workplace in Cooper Plains, Brisbane in October last year.

Made popular in the automotive industry on car boots and bonnets, gas struts are now commonly used on RVs to give mechanical assistance to lifting and supporting items like tool box lids and locker doors.

Filled with highly pressurised nitrogen gas, they're typically durable but do have a lifespan, and usually fail due to gradual loss of pressure. But they can also fail if they have been internally damaged, by forced over-extension for example, and it's not always possible to know if a gas strut is damaged internally before removing it.

The gas strut may appear to be operating normally, but the removal process may trigger a failure, causing an explosive ejection of parts.

For full details including any precautions that should be taken before removing a gas strut, click here.

Meanwhile, Gas Energy Australia has warned of the dangers of using special adapters now available, that allow a domestic LPG bottle to be filled at an Autogas pump found at service stations.

According to the gas authority, the use of the adapters, which are available for sale online for about $60, is illegal in Australia.

"A vehicle autogas tank is designed to allow the tank to be filled to a safe level," it said in a statement. "Filling other LPG tanks from an Autogas bowser is extremely dangerous. LPG BBQ and Homegas cylinders should only be filled at authorised filling station."