Health & safety bulletin
Correct use and storage of aerosol containers
19th July 2007
A fatality recently occurred on a housing development when an operative was using a 500ml aerosol can of Evo-Stik expanding foam in a new house. It was one of a batch of 3 boxes of 12 each purchased for the task and had just been delivered to site. The operative picked up one of the cans and gave it a shake as recommended on the can.
A pressure explosion occurred when the can burst/exploded at the top seam. The top flew off and hit both the ceiling and a wall leaving surface marks. The bottom section of the can flew out of the operative’s hand and hit him on the chest over the heart. The impact was so severe that the bottom section crumpled and wrinkled to some six inches. Although the severity of the impact neither penetrated his outer clothing or skin, it ruptured his heart causing bleeding to the inside of the heart sack, resulting in his death within several minutes. He was a fit man in his late 20's.
If stored in direct sunlight or near sources of heat, the material inside the can could expand resulting in a catastrophic failing of the container. The container should always be stored in a secure manner such that it will not become damaged.
Under our COSHH regulations, this type of product would not be used on an Xmo Strata site without prior investigation and approval, however, please ensure that if using similar materials at home, they are stored and subsequently used correctly. If you need to use similar materials, it is imperative that you notify the office before use, and the safety data sheet that is supplied with the product is checked and any explosion risk identified (whether obvious on the data sheet or not) and included within the COSHH Assessment, Risk Assessment and Method Statement. Storage methods and adequacy of associated systems of work should also be checked to ensure that safe use of such products can be assured.