Propane Storage Tanks Recalled By American Welding & Tank Due to Risk of Gas Leak; Can Pose Fire and Burn Hazard

WASHINGTON , D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Conversion Underground Propane Storage Tanks

Units: About 11,000

Manufacturer: American Welding & Tank LLC, of Jesup, Ga.

Hazard: An odorant is added to propane to help alert customers to propane leaks, but rust inside a propane tank can cause the odor to fade. Some converted above-ground to underground converted tanks can have an increased susceptibility to odor fade, causing consumers to be unable to detect the odor of propane in the event of a gas leak. This can pose a fire and burn hazard to consumers if there is a leak in the propane gas system.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received a report in which two individuals sustained first and second degree burn injuries, as they were attempting to ignite an outside fireplace.

Description: The recall includes 120 gallon to 1,000 gallon underground propane storage tanks which were previously converted from above-ground to underground storage tanks in the period of January 2005 through April 2008.

Sold to: Retail propane dealers in the eastern United States, from January 2005 through April 2008.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Necessary repairs will be performed at the tank by the retail propane company. Known retail propane companies that sold the recalled tanks have been notified directly of the recall and will contact consumers directly.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact American Welding & Tank toll-free at (866) 614-0910 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.awtank.com