FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS WITH COMPRESSED GASES Report of an Accident BY

A case of near-fire with resultant burns to an anaesthetist is reponed. This happened upon opening the regulator valve of an oxygen cylinder which probably had been con-taminated with liquid paraffin. Possible mechanisms of the accident is discussed. Fires and explosions are hazards inherent in any occupation in which compressed gases are handled. Physicians, especially anaesthetists, are always being exposed to these dangers although it is agreed that most of these can be prevented by constant vigilance and patient observation of the accepted principles of prevention. A search of the literature disclosed only a few accidents of this type (Thomas, 1951, 1957). Many things, however, can escape the limits of human atten-tion so easily that fires and explosions resulting from faulty handling of compressed gases mus