Peter Drygala, General Manager Dangerous Goods Safety for WA’s Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, said there are a number of things to consider when using an LP gas cylinder.

“Firstly, in Western Australia it is illegal to fill LP gas cylinders from automotive LP gas dispensers at your local service station,” Dr Drygala said.

Automotive LP gas may contain blends that have not been tested or approved for home appliances.

Instead, cylinders should be refilled from an LP gas outlet specifically designed for the purpose.

“People should also ensure the cylinder they are using is in good condition,” Dr Drygala said.

“Look for dents and creases on the cylinder, and make sure it is stamped with a valid cylinder test date.”

Cylinders need to be tested every ten years to make sure that they are in good condition.

If your cylinder is out of date, contact an LP gas distributor to find out how you can get it tested or replaced.

“Once the refill is complete, the cylinders should be stored in an area clean and free from other combustible material to reduce fire risk, ” Dr Drygala said.

When the cylinder is connected to your barbecue, check for leaks at the connection point by applying soapy-water.

Any dry foliage and other potential fuel sources should also be removed from the immediate entertaining area.

“You don’t want any flames to come out of your barbecue while entertaining, as it could burn your guests or start a bushfire,” Dr Drygala said.

“In this dry and hot weather, it doesn’t take much to get a fire started, as the recent bush fires around Perth have shown us.”

If you have any questions on how to refill, store or handle LP gas cylinders, fire extinguishers, fuel drums and the legal limits on dangerous goods storage quantities, contact the Dangerous Goods Duty Inspector on 08 9222 3413.