WASHINGTON, D.C. - As consumers get ready to fire up their
grills this Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) is releasing safety tips for
consumers to follow when using gas or charcoal grills.
Gas Grill Safety Tips
Liquid petroleum (LP) gas or propane, used in gas
grills, is highly flammable. Each year about 30 people are
injured as a result of gas grill fires and explosions. Many
of these fires and explosions occur when consumers first use
a grill that has been left idle for a period of time or just
after refilling and reattaching the grill's gas container.
To reduce the risk of fire or explosion, consumers should
routinely perform the following safety checks:
Check the tubes that lead into the burner for any
blockage from insects, spiders, or food grease. Use a pipe
cleaner or wire to clear blockage and push it through to the
main part of the burner.
Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and
leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or
tubing.
Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot
surfaces and dripping hot grease. If you can't move the
hoses, install a heat shield to protect them.
Replace scratched or nicked connectors, which can
eventually leak gas.
Check for gas leaks, following the manufacturer's
instructions, if you smell gas or when you reconnect the
grill to the LP gas container. If you detect a leak,
immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the
grill until the leak is fixed.
Keep lighted cigarettes, matches, or open flames away
from a leaking grill.
Never use a grill indoors. Use the grill at least 10
feet away from your house or any building. Do not use the
grill in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a
surface that can catch fire.
Do not attempt to repair the tank valve or the
appliance yourself. See an LP gas dealer or a qualified
appliance repair person.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions that
accompany the grill.
Consumers should use caution when storing LP gas
containers. Always keep containers upright. Never store a
spare gas container under or near the grill or indoors.
Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline, near
the grill.
To avoid accidents while transporting LP gas
containers, consumers should transport the container in a
secure, upright position. Never keep a filled container in a
hot car or car trunk. Heat will cause the gas pressure to
increase, which may open the relief valve and allow
gas to escape.
Consumers should use extreme caution and always follow
manufacturer's instructions when connecting or disconnecting
LP gas containers.
Grills manufactured after October 1, 1995, are required
to have three additional safety features to eliminate leak
hazards: a device to limit the flow of gas in the event of
hose rupture; a mechanism to shut-off the grill; and a
feature to prevent the flow of gas if the connection between
the tank and the grill is not leak proof. Consumers should
consider purchasing grills that have these safety features.
Charcoal Grill Safety Tips
Charcoal produces carbon monoxide (CO) when it is
burned. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can accumulate
to toxic levels in closed environments. Each year about 30
people die and 100 are injured as a result of CO fumes from
charcoal grills and hibachis used inside.
To reduce these CO poisonings, CPSC is offering the
following safety tips:
Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents,
or campers. Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if
ventilation is provided.
Since charcoal produces CO fumes until the charcoal is
completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with
freshly used coals.
In April 1996, CPSC voted to revise the label on charcoal packaging to
more explicitly warn consumers of the deadly CO gas that is released when
charcoal is burned in a closed environment. The new label reads,
"WARNING...CARBON MONOXIDE HAZARD...Burning charcoal inside can kill you.
It gives off carbon monoxide, which has no odor. NEVER burn charcoal
inside homes, vehicles or tents." The new label also conveys the written
warning visually with drawings of grills inside a home, tent, and vehicle.
The drawings are enclosed in a circle with an "X" through it. While the
new label requirement will not become mandatory until the end of
the year, many charcoal manufacturers have already started using the new
labels on charcoal packaging.