Death from Fill Station

[SeeK]

According to one of the articles the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma. http://www.rep-am.com/top/4j4b.htm The Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner has ruled Sanzeri's death an accident, pinpointing multiple blunt traumatic injuries as the cause.

This would seem to contradict the story of a ball bearing killing the operator. Was the tank in 1 piece so the point of failure most probably was the reg. area? If that's the case then it sounds like it may have separated, bounced around a couple of places, striking him more than once and landing far away.

How about oil in the fill nipple like we've read about before?

He was in charge of the fire department dive unit would have been very familiar with high pressure tanks and equipment.

[cphilip]

No doubt Thord! but its already gonna cost em anyway. I bet Insurance is gonna go up now. And the use of enclosures will be required to get it. I like steel chambers. I have seem made from steel pipe and a lock cap with a slot to slide the hose down like you see in Fire stations. Something smaller to fit our needs would work. I may pop over to the Fire dept tomorrow and get all of you a picture of this one so you can see. Easy to make. but they do have to meet some ASME standards though.

[bofh]

Originally posted by cphilip
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.

The article says it occured in his store on South Main Street.

It doesn't even state that he played paintball.

[cphilip]

...never seen em at any PB store either...

[bofh]

Sanzeri's Locks Bait & Tackle
288 South Main, Thompson, CT 06277
Fishing Bait & Tackle, Locks & Locksmiths, Sporting Goods

Doesn't sound like a PB only store. They may also do SCUBA fills there. It's possible that they had the correct safety equipment there.

Now, that does say that there was safety equipment either, but we shouldn't speculate, right

However, I completely agree with you that PB field and stores should have such equipment in use.

[cphilip]

Well probably not paintball sized safety equipment. that seems to be lacking everywhere. Its all a shame isn't it?

[aaron_mag]

Let me draw into your pool of knowledge as I'm probably going to be buying a scuba tank in the near future to fill my HPA tanks.

Is there any extra equipment I should consider? Any other precautions I should take while filling? I've always secured the steel hose with my hand to the fill nipple just in case it wasn't firmly attached. Anything I'm missing? I have to be the most accident prone person in the world. Need to make sure I get the safety equipment with the scuba tank.

-Aaron

[TooDamnSweet]

I'll keep him and his family in my prayers.

[cris8762]

whenever i get my tank filled i ALWAYS make sure that i have my nad firmly grasping the fill hose, and watching the gauge. Our local field even has the hoses chained to the fill station so they wont be able to whip around and hurt someone. My one concern is that while i'm holding my tank, it will fail and take my arm off. But besides that, i feel completely safe while filling my tank (till now.......)

[Jonno06]

that really blows..

i dont really think about it when they fill my tank..

my field only fills to 3000psi just incase some idiot tries to fill a 3000 tank on a 4500 fill station...

[Nomad]

Originally posted by aaron_mag
Let me draw into your pool of knowledge as I'm probably going to be buying a scuba tank in the near future to fill my HPA tanks.

Is there any extra equipment I should consider? Any other precautions I should take while filling? I've always secured the steel hose with my hand to the fill nipple just in case it wasn't firmly attached. Anything I'm missing? I have to be the most accident prone person in the world. Need to make sure I get the safety equipment with the scuba tank.

-Aaron

Just makes sure the nipple is connected firmly, and open the valve SLOWLY to fill the tank.

Opening the valve and filling as fast as you can WILL lead to accidents (speaks from experience).

[mihanikos]

I am very sorry for the family and friends of the deceased. My condolences. On another note, this is why I yell at the kids at the local shop that just crank open the valve and fill at warp speed, that's why the tanks get so hot, the proper way to fill HPA is 500 psi at a time, slowly. Again I am very sorry to hear about this tradegy.

[fiendkuja]

That's just terrible. :/

[manike]

Originally posted by cris8762
whenever i get my tank filled i ALWAYS make sure that i have my nad firmly grasping the fill hose, and watching the gauge

I take it you mean you hold the hose with your hand? You shouldn't. You should make sure it is firmly connected and then stand as clear as possible.

All NPPL fill stations now have warnings NOT to hold the fill hose, in case a fitting blows and it sends bits or compressed air through your hand.

manike

[Creative Mayhem]

When I worked at my local scuba shop, we had a rule of thumb that he had to follow when filling tanks whether it was scuba tank or the odd pb air system. We ALWAYS Filled no faster than 300psi per min. As for the comment on the heat from the tank when filling fast, this is due to forcing air into the confined area. When you heat a tank(any tank) it weakens every time, due to the fact that the molecules in the metal are being aggitated. Hydrostatic testing actually pumps up the tank close to the point of failure. Each time you pump it up, it weakens the metal which is why you can use your fiber wrapped tank for no more than three hydro cycles(15 yrs)


CM