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Item:
PIN-INDEX CYLINDER KEY

Date of manufacture:
1970s

Manufacturer:
BOC

Description:
The hand wheel is designed to limit the torque that can be applied to the Pin-index cylinder shut-off valve. No external leverage should be applied. Other companies, made keys with levers but these were discouraged by BOC who supplied the cylinders.The reason for this is that the valve is fitted with a flexible seating that is easily damaged with the application of excessive force. Nevertheless, there was an incident when cylinders issued from the BOC plant in Margam, South Wales, were impossible to open using this disc. It transpired that a worker had mislaid his provided key and had closed cylinders using a wrench. This left paramedics unable to administer oxygen and emergency cylinders on anaesthetics machines were impossible to open. Fortunately, that problem was resolved without tragedy.

Category:
Medical Gas

Accession Nr.:
20110012.

Discussion:

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