Kia Ora, This might interest some of you. An article in our club newsletter discribed how a guide was badly hurt when a handflare exploded. While distributing the handflares along side the kayaks ready for his customers he dropped one.About one or two seconds later, a mighty bang and his jaw was hit by pieces and broken in two places,aswell as cutting an artery,a facial nerve,saliva duct he was bleeding freely. The handflare was a Wessix Mk 7.Each flare was stored in a canister made out of 40mm plastic pipe with end caps cemented on. The drill was, that after each trip the flares were removed from the cannisters and placed on a rack to dry.before the next trip they were inspected and replaced in the cannisters. The clients would than be instructed in the use of the flares and storage.On occasions durin inspection it was found that the flares were left in the firing position. However fragments were recovered and it appears the flare itself exploded.This -it states- "would have been caused by the high pressures inside the canister". Holes have now been drilled in the cannisters and covered by a length of bicycle inner tube,so it allows excessive pressure to escape,without allowing the water in..This modification has been tested by the Department of Labour........ ****** The question that I ask myself is can this happen without being dropped ? Say inside the boat or on top due to heat or rough seas ? Any experts on this subject ? Enjoy life, Eddie. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> An article in our club newsletter discribed how a guide was badly hurt > when a handflare exploded. ........ > On occasions durin inspection it was found that the > flares were left in the firing position. .......... > ****** The question that I ask myself is can this happen without being > dropped ? > Say inside the boat or on top due to heat or rough seas ? What Eddie might have missed and what the guiding copmpany's rep told us at the kayak forum was that, being in the firing position, the flare was dropped (in its container) and it now "fired". The explosion was caused by being in a sealed container. Normally a flare can burn and the gasses expand at the correct rate when in free air. The key part to the whole episode was that the flare was triggered as it would be if done intentionally (except of course for the container). (You missed a good sea kayak forum Eddie, we always have good weather when they are held in the South Island !!!!!!) "This is a "dig" because the Auckland one (where Eddie lives) always has attrocious weather - always, right? " Alex -- ---------------------------------------------------- Alex Ferguson a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz Electronics Workshop, Chem Dept, Univ of Canterbury Christchurch, New Zealand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Alex Ferguson wrote: > > An article in our club newsletter discribed how a guide was badly > hurt > > when a handflare exploded. ........ > > > On occasions durin inspection it was found that the > > flares were left in the firing position. .......... > > > ****** The question that I ask myself is can this happen without > being > > dropped ? > > Say inside the boat or on top due to heat or rough seas ? > > What Eddie might have missed and what the guiding > copmpany's rep told us at the kayak forum was that, being in > the firing position, the flare was dropped (in its container) > and it now "fired". The explosion was caused by being in a > sealed container. Normally a flare can burn and the gasses > expand at the correct rate when in free air. The key part to > the whole episode was that the flare was triggered as it > would be if done intentionally (except of course for the > container). > Kia Ora Hi Alex,Thanks for this info.I read this article in ASKNET and KASK newsletters ,which gave the impression that this was a recent local accident accident.****** > (You missed a good sea kayak forum Eddie, we always have > good weather when they are held in the South Island !!!!!!) > ****Sorry about that but it was a 1000 km drive plus Ferry costs, I am > a pensioner don't forget............******* Yes you had fine weather in Nelson about 6% more sunshine than Auckland last year.Is that why the wearing of clothes was optional in that camping? It must have been a sight for "sore eyes". :-))) ********** > "This is a "dig" because the Auckland one (where Eddie > lives) always has attrocious weather - always, right? " But our water temperatures are bearable at least.Not Polarbearable like down South.******* > I will see you up here after Christmas??Meanwhile enjoy life my > friend. Regards all Eddie. > -- > ---------------------------------------------------- > > **************************************************** > ********************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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