WorkSafe highlights air receiver explosion risks

WorkSafe Victoria has released new guidance focusing on the safety risks associated with air receivers — pressure vessels used to store compressed air for large demands greater than a compressor’s capacity.

WorkSafe’s Manufacturing, Logistics and Agriculture Industry Program director, Ross Pilkington, said air receivers had the potential to seriously hurt people and damage property if they were not properly installed or maintained: “There have been serious incidents involving air receivers exploding in Victorian workplaces — and it has only been good luck that no one was working near them at the time.”

Employers with air receivers must ensure they are properly maintained to reduce the risk of explosion or fire. Pilkington urged employers with air receivers in their workplaces to use the handbook to assess their safety: “Properly installing and servicing air receivers are how they will be kept operating safely.”

Depending on their hazard level, some air receivers must be registered as an item of ‘plant’ with WorkSafe Victoria. To help employers determine if they need to register their air receiver, WorkSafe has a link from its website to Comcare’s ‘Unfired pressure vessel assessor macro’ (hazard level calculator).

From early 2009, WorkSafe inspectors will be inspecting air receivers during workplace visits. The handbook 'Working safely with air receivers' can be downloaded from worksafe.vic.gov.au or ordered from WorkSafe’s Advisory Service on 1800 136 089.