Death from Fill Station

[paint magnet]

I would be willing to bet money it was made by XXX Lets not speculate on manufacturers until we have some facts - cphilip, if they make fill stations. Also, maybe it was only supposed to be used for 3k fills, not 4500. That would explain it exploding if it's new and hadn't been used before. But still, it should withstand at least 5000 psi with no problem.

[HoppysMag]

actualy you would be surprised, 32 degrees actualy makes a good co2 fill station, but i dont think they make HPA ones... when they say it was new equipment he was probibly filling an HPA tank for the first time and messed something up since he was used to scuba tanks.... a tragedy nonthe less.

[Muzikman]

Although I have never had a fear of filling my tanks, you always have to think of what can happen when doing so. Regs separating from tanks is always a big concern of mine, and one reason I stress that people DO NOT try and change their tanks / regs themselves. As for what happed with this gentleman, since there are no answers on what happened, I can only stress the importance of a strapped down fill hose an gas fittings and hoses in good condition and rated for what they are used for. Even as little pressure as 800psi can cause some serious injuries.

Off topic for what happened but still valid:
Compressed air is scary, and although generally safe, things can happen. This is why I also think that any player intentionally throwing equipment that has a HPA system attached to it should be ejected not just from the game, but from the facilities.

EDIT:
I think it is a bad idea to make assumptions on what happened and what "Brand" of hardware was used. I would also avoid assuming user error. We should just sit back and wait to see what transpires. Jumping to assumptions is what could hurt the industry from incidents like this.

[synreal]

This is why I also think that any player intentionally throwing equipment that has a HPA system attached to it should be ejected not just from the game, but from the facilities.

i could not agree more

[sniper1rfa]

very, very scary.

i make a point to stand far out of the way when the people at my local feild fill off scuba's, as they fill REALLY fast. like, the just crank open the valve. scares the crap outta me every time, but they wont listen when i tell them not to.

[Creative Mayhem]

I 'm an avid scuba diver, and I've heard of several tank explosions. Some were due to bad tan threads, and some due to faulty alloys. These explosions have killed or dimembered people, not to mention unreal amounts of damage. This is where we as high pressure users must learn the dangers associated with its use. People become complacent with things we deal this incident with everyday. It's just a shame that we need to have a slap in the face like this. I can only hope that this incident will force people to inspect their equipment on a regular, or better yet, on a daily basis, not just when required. My heart and thoughts go out to the family and friends of this man.


C Mayhem



Sig free out of respect.

[The Frymarker]

My condolences as well.


I also have filled compressed nitro and Co2. I have had scary experiences with both.

Faulty o rings, one time the tank shot right from my hands and flew to the back of the room and went through the wall. Everyone that was working with me, my husband and two brother in laws dove into the next room, I just froze. That was co2.

Then I've had the hose from the nitro station come flying of the tank nipple and almost wack me in the face.

We had a setup where the customers were completely away from the fill area incase anything did happen.

Definitely a scary situation. I refuse to fill air. It always made me uneasy to start with.


I have to agree with the person who said that someone should be ejected from the playing field for throwing their marker. They're not toys and are potentially harzardous and should be respected as such, they shouldn't be thrown around.

[magman007]

Yes, i am a little weary every time i fill my tank... it bothers me a little, but i take care. this is extremely saddening as i said before.

What actually exploded? tom said it was the female connect, and the ball bearings went into his neck. the reports make it out to be something like the tank exploding, or the generator...

[Kevmaster]

only bad experience ive had was where i was showing a new employee who had played pball for 2-3 years how to use the HPA station. told ihm to connect the fill nipple to the female on the setup. he does it and i crank open the valve....he didnt lock the female around the male. it came and whipped me right in the eye. teh tank dropped and luckly didnt have air(good thing the guy took it down to 100psi before giving it to us) in it because it dropped and cracked at the bottom.

basicly, im on the ground KOed, the other dude is in masive pain(the air blasted him right in the arm..gave him a nasty wound) and falling to the ground. not fun. that was the week AFTER we moved the station behind the counter so customers cant be neer the station. good thing...btw, i was out for around 10 minutes. there were paramedics there when i woke up


edit: oh, yeh, it took me about a month before i would even go back to the fill station/booster pump setup

[bofh]

Originally posted by Muzikman
EDIT:
I think it is a bad idea to make assumptions on what happened and what "Brand" of hardware was used. I would also avoid assuming user error. We should just sit back and wait to see what transpires. Jumping to assumptions is what could hurt the industry from incidents like this.

I would go as far to assume that it wasn't user error. The article descibed a fairly safety concered person.

I would also say that TK jumped ahead and assumed it was the QD, or knows something that we don't know.

[HoppysMag]

im not saying it was definatly user error, just with practice comes perfection, people are bound to make mistakes with new eguipment wether it be faulty products or a tradgic mistake... i am going to suggest that my field move our fill location away from people.

[cphilip]

User error or not OSHA recomends fill cages and containment devices when filling HPA tanks. And we don't use em. No one even makes them that I know of because we do not demand them. Insurance is going to go up now because this could have been avoided and no one has the equipment to do it. I am as guilty as they are of not having any so I am not preaching here just pointing that out.

[bofh]

The article says that he was on the rescue dive team for 15 years, from 1987 to present, and a leader of that team for the last five years. Filled Hundreds of high pressure tanks, (could be SCUBA, SCBA or paintball.) As a firefighter, he most likely would have used SCBA equipment. It sounds very much like a person who would treat high pressure devices with respect.

That being said, it's possible that it was user error, but I assume it would be something else first.

[Thordic]

They were considering using kevlar bags that your tank slipped into while it was filled.

Maybe now this will actually come to pass. I don't see how it could hurt, although it would probably be pretty expensive for the fields.

[cphilip]

Fire departments have protective fill chambers where they fill their SCBA's in. Good ones do. Ours does as we fill our SCUBA's there. I have used it many times. In my opinion it was a lack of protective equipment in this case. He did not have access to it there at the paintball field or he probably would have used it and I bet he was used to using it at work at the Fire Dept. Just not there to use at the field is all I can say. Never seen any at any PB field I have been to. That must be corrected now. This was no accident as it was preventable. If its predictable it WAS preventable. There is ample evidence that in other occupations that filling of HPA tanks warranted enclosures and protection. We are just failing to do anything about it in our industry. Thats a shame. It cost this man his life most likely.