Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has issued an incident alert after a worker suffered significant burns while lighting a gas deep fryer. Although it happened in Queensland, the fuel-gas risks apply to any workplace that uses gas, and it’s a timely prompt for PCBUs to review controls around ignition sources.

What Happened

In 2025, a worker suffered significant burns following a gas-related fire at a restaurant. Initial enquiries indicate the worker had been preparing the kitchen and attempted to light a gas deep fryer using a BBQ-style lighter when, for reasons yet to be established, a fire occurred in the immediate area. These findings are not yet confirmed and investigations are continuing into the exact cause.

Incidents like this are a reminder that everyday equipment carries serious risk when fuel gases are involved, and that the people closest to the work are often best placed to spot the gaps.

Why Fuel Gases Need Careful Management

Fuel gases used in kitchens and cafes include natural gas (methane) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Natural gas is supplied through reticulated pipeline networks, while LPG is supplied in bottles and cylinders stored on-site in outdoor areas. Not every kitchen has access to a natural gas pipeline.

Both gases are highly flammable, but they behave differently. LPG is heavier than air, so it can pool at low points and in pits or drains if it leaks. Natural gas is lighter than air, so it tends to rise and disperse upward. That difference matters when you’re deciding where to place detection, ventilation and shut-off controls.

Practical Controls to Review

Effective risk management starts with a genuine commitment to health and safety from those who run the business. For any workplace using fuel gas, it’s worth checking that:

  • Gas appliances are installed, serviced and maintained by licensed persons, with dated records kept.
  • Ignition procedures are documented and workers are trained in them, including the correct sequence for lighting appliances and what to do if gas is suspected.
  • Cylinders are stored, secured and ventilated correctly, and connections are checked for leaks.
  • Fire protection and firefighting equipment is provided, compatible with the local fire service’s equipment, and properly installed, tested and maintained, with dated testing records kept.
  • Ventilation and gas detection are appropriate to the gas type and the layout of the space.

The HSR’s Role

Health and Safety Representatives are entitled to be consulted on how risks like these are managed. A newly elected or refreshed HSR who understands hazard identification, the hierarchy of controls and issue resolution can help ensure a hazard like a poorly maintained gas appliance is raised and fixed before it causes harm. This is exactly the kind of practical, workplace-level review that HSR consultation is designed to support.

If a notifiable incident does occur, the person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU) must notify the WHS regulator immediately, and be able to show the regulator that risks were being actively managed.

Keep Your HSRs Current

Refreshing HSR knowledge each year keeps consultation effective and ensures representatives are across current duties and controls.

For group or on-site training, contact Advance OHS or call (02) 9635 4444.

Source: Workplace Health and Safety Queensland incident alert, “Worker burnt in gas explosion” (May 2026), worksafe.qld.gov.au. This article is general information only and does not constitute WHS or legal advice. Advance Consulting & Training Pty Ltd, RTO 91534.