Recently a 38-year-old man died when a hydraulic cylinder he was heating with an oxy acetylene torch exploded. The employee was heating a sealed hydraulic cylinder to remove a seized clevis pin at the bottom of the cylinder.  Heat from the oxy acetylene torch may have overheated the residual hydraulic oil/vapours in the cylinder, which was partially emptied, causing a build-up of pressure resulting in the piston ram being ejected through the top of the cylinder smashing the bolted end cap, inflicting fatal injury.

This Alert contains safety information following inquiries made by WorkSafe about an incident or unsafe practice. The information contained in this Alert does not necessarily include the outcome of WorkSafe’s action with respect to an incident. WorkSafe does not warrant the information in this Alert is complete or up to date and does not accept any liability to any person for the information in this report or as to its use.