Narrative:

On arrival at gate; amt was assigned to remove therapeutic O2 bottle from overhead at seat xx. Bottle was found with valve open; flow rate set at 4 lpm and no passenger or mask attached. Compartment was filled with breathing oxygen. Debriefing of crew revealed that passenger had deplaned in ZZZ1 and the mask removed; but the bottle had not been shut off before continuing on to ZZZ. This is approximately the 12TH incident of this nature this amt has encountered. Repeated complaints to management; both maintenance and flight attendants; has fallen on deaf ears. I believe the risk of fire/and or explosion is very great with these circumstances and could result in loss of aircraft and lives if not addressed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that he had opened several overhead bins where the bottles had been installed and were open and still flowing oxygen into the bin. The reporter's concern is what is being carried in the carryon baggage that is stowed in this bin with the bottle open. Reportedly; any substance with oil; suntan lotion; cosmetics and hair spray mixed with oxygen could support combustion. The reporter indicated the procedures for the installation are clear; but no one is delegated to shut off the bottle after being used.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TERMINAL TECHNICIAN RPTS THERAPEUTIC OXYGEN WHEN INSTALLED IN OVERHEAD BINS AND AFTER BEING USED ARE NOT BEING SHUT OFF. OXYGEN FLOWS CONTINUOUSLY INTO COMPARTMENT AND RISKS MIXING WITH CHEMICALS IN OVERHEAD CARRY ON BAGGAGE. NO PROC OR PERSONNEL DESIGNATED TO TURN OFF BOTTLE.

Narrative: ON ARRIVAL AT GATE; AMT WAS ASSIGNED TO REMOVE THERAPEUTIC O2 BOTTLE FROM OVERHEAD AT SEAT XX. BOTTLE WAS FOUND WITH VALVE OPEN; FLOW RATE SET AT 4 LPM AND NO PAX OR MASK ATTACHED. COMPARTMENT WAS FILLED WITH BREATHING OXYGEN. DEBRIEFING OF CREW REVEALED THAT PAX HAD DEPLANED IN ZZZ1 AND THE MASK REMOVED; BUT THE BOTTLE HAD NOT BEEN SHUT OFF BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO ZZZ. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY THE 12TH INCIDENT OF THIS NATURE THIS AMT HAS ENCOUNTERED. REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO MANAGEMENT; BOTH MAINT AND FLT ATTENDANTS; HAS FALLEN ON DEAF EARS. I BELIEVE THE RISK OF FIRE/AND OR EXPLOSION IS VERY GREAT WITH THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ACFT AND LIVES IF NOT ADDRESSED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT HE HAD OPENED SEVERAL OVERHEAD BINS WHERE THE BOTTLES HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND WERE OPEN AND STILL FLOWING OXYGEN INTO THE BIN. THE RPTR'S CONCERN IS WHAT IS BEING CARRIED IN THE CARRYON BAGGAGE THAT IS STOWED IN THIS BIN WITH THE BOTTLE OPEN. REPORTEDLY; ANY SUBSTANCE WITH OIL; SUNTAN LOTION; COSMETICS AND HAIR SPRAY MIXED WITH OXYGEN COULD SUPPORT COMBUSTION. THE RPTR INDICATED THE PROCS FOR THE INSTALLATION ARE CLR; BUT NO ONE IS DELEGATED TO SHUT OFF THE BOTTLE AFTER BEING USED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.