IRRESPONSIBILITY AND CARELESS DISREGARD FOR SAFETY

 

Worthington Industries appears to be aware of the defects with a great many of the cylinders it has out on the market at this time, but rather than recalling the product, it has simply decided to defend against any and all claims.  This is irresponsible when the magnitude of injury is so severe.  Burn injuries are often lethal, and are the most painful injuries one can experience.  Worthington's refusal to recall the product while apparently aware others shall suffer severe burn injuries or possibly death is of great concern to the publishers of this website.  In summary, the defects are as follows:

 

 

(1)  the torch handles are designed to fracture at 22-26 foot-pounds of force;

(2)  the cylinders bend at the "neck" (just below the threads) at 15 foot-pounds;

(3)  in all cases, no cylinder bent, evidencing all cylinders breached at less than 15 foot-pounds;

(4)  in all cases reviewed, no torch handle fracture groove ever failed;

(5)  in all cases, no torch handle evidenced damage from force or impact.

 

In every instance where a cylinder breached due to "force" or "impact," the cylinders breached well below the measure of force required to break the torch handle fracture groove (indicating a design flaw in the fracture groove as well).  Worthington's allegations that these burn victims impact the torches, whether with "massive, full-arm force" or otherwise,  are quite dismissive of the fact that regardless of the impact force, the fracture grooves are designed to give way before the cylinders breach and explode, and that simply apparently never happens.  Of all known suits, the evidence is conclusive that the amount of force applied was quite modest, apparently well below 15 foot pounds in each instance, evidenced by the fact that in no known instance did the cylinder "bend" before breaching, and the force required to "bend" is 15 foot pounds (see "Expert") tab.

 

 

Bernzomatic has taken a defense position which is simply illogical.  It alleges that because Worthington or Western manufactured the cylinders, it was not responsible.  The packaging bears its label -

Bernzomatic discloses publicly that it is the supplier on the MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET it filed with "OSHA" November 10, 2005.  

 

 

In one case the manufacturer and distributor attempt to argue that the cylinder was "kicked" into a firepit and exploded.  While this is yet another illogical theory, even under this theory, explosion of the cylinder can only occur as the result of a product failure, as Worthington's Dr. Eager testified -

 

 

The cylinders contain a pressure relief valve and are therefore incapable of explosion...unless the valve is defective.  An entire report is dedicated to this aspect (click here to see report).