The committee have become aware of several incidents, some of which have had serious consequences, involving pierceable gas canisters of the type shown below; several brands are available, and the canisters are often blue in colour and do not have a threaded connection for the burner.

Accidents have occurred where the burner assembly has pierced the canister but failed to achieve an effective seal, leading to an escape of gas which cannot be stopped. This type of canister and appliance are quite old now but if members do still have one, we recommend that they are retired from use (and probably not just chucked in the loft like this one, though it did come in useful for the photograph!).