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TO: Concerned Divers

FRM: Bill High, PSI, INC.

Subject:  Cylinder Rupture at Riviera Beach, FL.

On February 1, 1998, a Walter Kidde aluminum cylinder ruptured 
explosively while being handled just prior to topping it off.  A 17 year 
old technician was severely injured.  The technician  lost two fingers 
and received facial injuries as well.  Considerable mis-information about 
this tragic event has been published by television news readers, the 
press, and a variety of postings on the internet.
The DOT has visited the Force E dive store and has an on-going 
investigation to determine the cause.  The Walter Kidde cylinder was 
manufactured before July, 1982.  This cylinder is NOT part of any special 
group of scuba cylinders subject to recall.  No such list or group exists.
Each year several steel or aluminum cylinders fail explosively.  Usually, 
the cause can be traced to damage or abuse in service.  Often the cause 
is overlooked by those technicians assigned to assess the conditions.  
They simply don't know what to look for or how to assess what they see.  
Both hydrostatic retesters and dive industry visual inspectors must be 
trained.  Experience alone will not give them the technical information 
needed.  In 1996, the
cause for each of the 6 cylinder that exploded would have been discovered 
by a properly trained technician well before the failure.
Divers who are concerned about the safety of their cylinder should insist 
that the technicians who service their equipment have proof of training.  
PSI, Inc. conducts more that 200 cylinder visual inspector training 
workshops each year.
For persons at international locations where classes are not readily 
available, training by correspondence can be arranged.
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