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Below is a copy of Volume 2.0 of the ComDiv Scuba E-Serial. It was
suggested by several readers that the material was important enough to
be posted on Scuba-L and Techdiver. If this offends anyone, I apologize in
advance. Due to the nature of this material, you may feel free to copy
this issue.
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ComDiv Serial
Vol. 2.0
June 28, 1994
A Delphi Scuba Forum Publication
*************************************************************************
Late Tuesday evening ComDiv was given a copy of a letter from Luxfer USA
Limited on a Luxfer Letterhead concerning action reportedly taken by
the Miami Area Dive Operators (Association). According the the letter,
presented below, the M.A.D.O. group is calling for a blanket refusal to fill
Luxfer Cylinders with the original hydro dates from 1982-83. This action,
according to M.A.D.O., is being taken because of an explosion which occured
at Scuba Sports, N. Miami Beach, Fl. USA, in which Arnie Hubber lost his
right thumb when a Luxfer cylinder exploded. The cylinder according to
reports had passed hydro within 1 year of the incident.
Also included in this issue is the M.A.D.O. letter and a sample letter
to customers suggested by M.A.D.O. All this material came from a
Hydro Facility which said it had received it via the mail.
ComDiv has spoken to 3 Shops and non of them have reported seeing
the letter. [See editors comments at end of volume]
As many of you may remember, Luxfer put out a notice a few years ago
concerning possible cracking of cylinders at the neck. The shop that
the Comdiv Editor works at found 4 defective cylinders in a short period
of time. In addition, one of the instructors at the same shop had a
cylinder develop a leak, through the cylinder's wall, while in his garage.
This was within a few months of passing Hydro!
Below are the three letters in their entirety:
________________________________________________________________________
LUXFER USA LIMITED
1995 Third St., Riverside California 92507
Mail: P.O. Box 5300-92517
For Sales Information:
5005 La Mart Drive Suite 201
Riverside, California 92507
Telephone (909) 684-5110
June 15, 1994
To All Dive Shops and Hydro Testers:
The attached letter is being circulated in Florida by the Miami Association
of Dive Oprators regarding a scuba cylinder rupture. The letter and
handout were not authorized by Luxfer.
Luxfer has attempted to investigate the accident. The dive shop owner has
refused to give our engineer access to the cylinder. Therefore, at this
we are unable to determine why it ruptured.
We have been in contact with the Department of Transportation and understand
the cylinder will be sent to them, at which time a thorough investigation
will be conducted with our full cooperation and assistance.
In the meantime, we want to make everyone aware of this accident and continue
to stress the importance of maintaining inspection and filling procedures
of your scuba cylinders in accordance with DOT 3AL Specification and CGA
Pamphlet C-6.1, "Standards for Visual Inspection of High Pressure
Aluminum Compressed Gas Cylinders".
Luxfer has manufactured over 1,500,000 scuba cylinders. There are more than
20,000,000 Luxfer high pressure aluminum cylinders in service today
throughout the world. Our service and safety record is outstanding.
It is extimated that Luxfer cylinders hve experienced over two billion safe
and successful fillings, and we are confident that your diving cylinders
are safe and may continue to be filled, regardless of service dates, as
long as long as you follow visual inspection procedures, observe accepted
standards for filling, and insure periodic hydro testing.
Within the next few days, Luxfer will send you another technical bulletin
reminding you of the proper visual inspection ("VIP") and filling procedures
for Luxfer scuba cylinders. Please ensure all your employees are aware
of
and fully understand this information. We cannot emphasize enough the
importance of a good visual inspection. Please remember that only trained
and qualified personnel should be doing VIP inspections and fillings.
Luxfer's policy is to replace any cylinder that develops a neack crack or
leak. When this problem is suspected, please call our Customer
Service Department for a returned goods authorization.
If you have other questions, please feel free to contact our Customer
Service Department or myself at 909/684-5110. We're here to help!
Best regards,
Signature
Debbie A. Reed
Customer Service Manager
DAR/c/w
Attachmment
Sales Office Manufacturing Facility
Fax (909) 781-6598 Fax (909) 351-0790
_________________________________________________________________________
The following are the letters from M.A.D.O.
Typos are duplicated from the letter
*************************************************************************
ATTENTION: DIVE STORE OWNERS and
managers
As you may already know, on June 4 1994 Arnie Hubber of Scuba Sports,
North Miami Beach, was seriously injured while filling a scuba tank.
The cylinder exploded, permanently removing Arnie's right thumb, breaking
his right arm and left leg and other injuries. The Luxfer cylinder was
manufactured in 1982. The cylinder had been properly hydro tested
approximately one year ago.
As you may know, Luxfer has been aware of a certain percentage of cylinders
manufactured in the years 1982 and 1983 which developed neck cracks.
According to reports we are aware of, not all tanks with "pin hole" leaks
or neck cracks did explode, however we feel it is only prudent to adopt
the following policy.
{italics} Do not continue to refill any Luxfer cylinder which has an
original hydro date of 1982 or 1983. {end italics}
We do not feel this is an overreaction. Had this tragedy occured in your
store or on your boat, we are confident you would have already implemented
this policy.
In anticipation of unsuspecting customers being upset and confused about
this policy, we have included a suggested hand-out you may wish to make
available after turning down their request to refill a tank.
We urge you to adopt and enforce this policy. We are confident Arnie would
endorse it!
Arnie is at Jackson Memorial Hospital. He has undergone surgery, is
reported in stable condition and, despite the circumstances, his spirits
remain high.
Sincerely
<no signature>
M.A.D.O
________________________________________________________________________
The following is the suggested letter from M.A.D.O.
Typos are duplicated from letter
*************************************************************************
June 07, 1994
Dear Customer:
It is with your safety in mind that we have decided not to refill
"LUXFER" brand scuba cylinders with a manufacturer's original
hydrostatic test date of 1982 or 1983.
Luxfer has advised us by telephone and reported in their {underlined}
Technical Bulletin {end underline}, Nov. 1989, that during 1982 and 1983
the aluminum stock used for scuba cylinders contained a high content of
lead resulting in "neck cracks" being discovered.
On June 4, 1994 an employee of a local dive store was seriously injured
when a scuba tank with the above criteria exploded. He was doing
{underlined next word} nothing wrong. In fact, the tank was within its
required 5-year "hydro" date and 1-year "vip" date.
One can only speculate how many times this tank was successfully refilled
and how many different dive stores, boats and people it had been in
contact with. Why this accident occured at this particular time and
place
is not important. What is important, is that this {next word underlined}
never happen again.
Although no official recall has been issued, we feel the only practice
that guarantees both our safety, is to no longer refill these tanks.
To voice your concern and to discuss any possible recourse you may have
in securing replacement cyliunders, please contact the selling dealer of
your tanks or call:
Luxfer USA Limited
P.O. Box 5300
Riverside, CA 92517
909/684-5110 (Scuba Division)
Thank you for your cooperation. Your safety is our utmost concern.
The Management
________________________________________________________________________
Editors Comments:
On Tuesday morning 6/28, I spoke with Debbie Reed of Luxfer and confirmed
that Luxfer had in fact sent the above letters with the attachments.
Ms. Reed said that Luxfer was completely surprised by a deluge of
requests for new cylinders and was not even made aware of the incident until
the letter from MOAD began to circulate through Florida. She repeated that
Luxfer cylinders are safe to use as long as established procedures are
followed.
Ms Reed said that the letter was sent to all licensed Hydro Facilities and
all attendees at Dema from three years ago. She did mention that a
"bundle" of the some 5,000 piece mailing was returned as undeliverable.
I attempted to speak to Scuba Sports about this. The person who answered
the phone refused any comment and defered me to the owner who might be in
later today and the employee wouldn't identify himself. He did confirm
that MOAD does exist, but said he didn't know who MOAD's respresentative
or President was saying he had "no comment" on the matter and said I
would have to speak to the owner.
ed.
________________________________________________________________________
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ComDiv is an irregular serial about scuba diving, the industry and
figures. It makes heavy use of industry sources and commercial interests
in an effort to give the industry a voice on the net.
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