#SafetyFirst – TSAMOURIS WP

Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

A tourist’s heart-stopping discovery of loose screws on a cable fixture while climbing a cliff trail in May 2024,
in Zhejiang province, eastern China, sparked concerns about the safety of adventure tourism. The incident,
captured on video, shows the tourist navigating a nerve-wracking path hundreds of meters above the ground
when he noticed the unsettling find.

The trail, which is equipped with steel cable fixtures every three meters, is designed to ensure the safety of
climbers. However, the presence of loose screws raises questions about the maintenance and inspection
procedures in place.

According to the trail manager, the steel cable undergoes regular maintenance and inspections. They also
assured that even if ten screws were missing, the cable would remain secure.

The trail, which is particularly crowded during China’s Golden Week holiday, has seen tourists stranded on
the cliff for more than an hour due to the high volume of visitors. In case of emergencies, a pickup service is
available at a cost of CNY 300 (USD 41 or EUR 38).

At Tsamouris, our commitment to providing reliable and durable bolts, nuts, screws, and other fasteners is
driven by the knowledge that even a single loose screw can pose a significant threat to human life.

Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©

In September 2022, a gas meter in the Kincaidston Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland, was found to be ‘bubbling’ due to
a loose screw, raising concerns among residents still reeling from a devastating house explosion in the area
just months earlier.

Rikki Bell, a 34-year-old qualified plumber and heating engineer, captured shocking footage of the gas leak at
his parents’ home on Sorrel Drive. Bell’s parents had noticed the smell of gas near their front door and porch,
prompting their son to investigate.

Using leak detector fluid, Bell discovered that a nut on the meter, which had been installed just nine months
earlier as part of major replacement works following the Gorse Park explosion, had not been properly
tightened. “It was basically tightened by hand,” Bell explained, adding that it took about four full turns with a
spanner to stop the leak.

Rikki’s mum, Tracy Bell, contacted SGN, the gas network operator, but was disappointed by their response.
She felt that the customer service agent and engineer downplayed the severity of the issue, stating, “To be
told it is just a loose screw is not good enough… It does not fill you with confidence — I do not understand
how it could have happened, and it is gas, it is dangerous and it is not a water tap. Things like this should be
checked and checked again.”

This incident emphasizes the critical importance of properly installed and maintained gas fittings and the
potential consequences of even seemingly minor issues like loose screws.

Tag: #SafetyFirst

Tourist Finds Loose Screws on Cliff Trail Hundreds of Meters above Ground

Loose Screw Causes Gas Meter Leak