Hot works:hazards from disposable lighters

[Bert]

I’m in the process of reviewing and redrafting guidelines for hot works safety.
One of the recommendations is that persons involved in hot works should not carry disposable plastic lighters on their person due to the risk of explosion caused by a stray spark or contact with a hot surface.  
I know that welders often use empty disposable lighters as gas igniters (the flint striker continues to work long after the gas has run out) and that being relatively brittle bodied plastic liquid gas containers, there is obviously a potential risk.  However, whilst I have heard anecdotes of such accidents occurring, some involving empty lighters, I can’t find any reports or data to substantiate them.  

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[smoke monkey]

I was standing next to a girl & a disposable lighter exploded in her pocket.it made a big bang but lucky she was ok.it happened abroadon a very hot day when it was plus 90 degrees F.

[kurnal]

Many reported cases of such lighters exploding on the dashboard of cars. The use of these things for igniting welding torches would never be acceptable under a competent reisk assessment or safe system of work, such as under the PUWER Regs. Contractors should provide proper tools for the job, training and supervision to make sure staff adhere to the rules.

[nearlythere]

Anyone got the video of the disposable lighter display going off?
I think a F&R Service did it as a demo.

[CivvyFSO]

I have it NT. I will see if I can get it stuck on the net somewhere.

And I have had a lighter explode on my car dashboard, so it does happen. (I returned to my car and wondered what all the green plastic fragments were all over the seats, and also wondered where my lighter had gone.)

[John Webb]

Just a thought - if the lighter is known to be empty but is kept for the spark its flint produces, is it an explosion risk? Only if it's empty there's nothing to go BANG?

[Midland Retty]

I have it NT. I will see if I can get it stuck on the net somewhere.

And I have had a lighter explode on my car dashboard, so it does happen. (I returned to my car and wondered what all the green plastic fragments were all over the seats, and also wondered where my lighter had gone.)

And you're a fire safety Officer ... Civvy I do despair!   

[CivvyFSO]

http://www.4shared.com/file/131632558/a5f157de/Lighter_Display.html

There you are....

It was before my time as a FSO Midland. I would say young and stupid, but i wasn't really that young.

[kurnal]

Just a thought - if the lighter is known to be empty but is kept for the spark its flint produces, is it an explosion risk? Only if it's empty there's nothing to go BANG?

You are right from that point of view John. Hovever consider the proximity of the flame to the fingers.  It is patently unsuitable. Now if a company will allow its employees to vary from good practice over such a basic issue what will their  level of care and diligence be like in other respects? Its your building they are working in!

[nearlythere]

http://www.4shared.com/file/131632558/a5f157de/Lighter_Display.html

There you are....

It was before my time as a FSO Midland. I would say young and stupid, but i wasn't really that young.

Thanks Civvy. Good demo.