Fuel Storage Safety

Whether it’s for powering trucks, generators, or landscaping equipment, keeping a supply of gasoline or diesel on hand ensures smooth operations for many businesses. However, improperly stored fuel can mean serious safety risks, including fires, explosions, and environmental hazards. This guide will help you safely store small quantities of fuel to protect your employees, property, and the environment.

1. Choose the Right Containers

Using the correct container is the first step toward safe fuel storage. Many store fuel in the red plastic gas containers that you see everywhere, but not everyone knows those are not okay for businesses to use. 

 

At the very least, make sure the gas cans you're using are FM approved and/or UL listed. And if there's any chance of the container being transported in a company vehicle or being used in the field with construction, then DOT-approved cans are a must. 

 

Remember:

      •     Use certified safety cans that are FM approved and / or UL listed. The vast majority of these containers will be metal.

      •     Clearly label containers with the type of fuel inside (e.g., “Gasoline” or “Diesel”).

      •     Never store fuel in non-approved containers like plastic bottles or buckets.

2. Store Fuel in Well-Ventilated Areas

Gasoline and diesel give off vapors that are highly flammable and can accumulate if stored in confined spaces. Always store fuel in a well-ventilated area away from enclosed spaces, where vapors could ignite.

Best practices:

      •     Keep fuel containers outside, in a dedicated, well-ventilated shed, or in a flammable cabinet.

      •     Avoid storing fuel in basements, garages attached to living spaces, or other confined areas.

      •     Ensure there’s proper ventilation and airflow wherever fuel is stored.

3. Keep Fuel Away from Ignition Sources

Fuel vapors can ignite when exposed to sparks, flames, or heat sources. It’s crucial to store fuel away from anything that could cause ignition, including electrical equipment, heaters, or smoking areas.

Safety tips:

      •     Maintain at least 50 feet of distance between fuel storage and any ignition sources.

      •     Post signs indicating “No Smoking” near fuel storage areas.

      •     Store fuel away from direct sunlight to prevent pressure buildup in containers.

4. Limit Quantities Stored On-Site

It's best practice to only store the amount of fuel you need for short-term use to reduce potential risks. Storing large quantities of fuel increases the chance of accidents and makes them more severe.

Guidelines:

      •     Avoid stockpiling large quantities of fuel. Store enough for a few days or weeks based on operational needs.

      •     Regularly inspect and rotate fuel supplies to avoid keeping old, potentially unstable fuel on-site.

5. Follow Proper Fuel Handling Procedures

Handling fuel safely is just as important as storing it correctly. Ensure that all employees are trained in proper handling techniques to minimize the risk of spills, fires, and injuries.

Fuel handling dos and don’ts:

      •     Always handle fuel in a well-ventilated area and avoid skin contact.

      •     Wear protective gloves and avoid inhaling fuel vapors.

      •     Clean up spills immediately and dispose of contaminated materials properly.

6. Fire Safety Precautions

Even with all precautions in place, accidents can happen. Having fire safety equipment readily available and knowing how to respond to fuel-related emergencies is essential.

Recommendations:

      •     Install fire extinguishers rated for Class B (flammable liquids) fires near fuel storage areas.

      •     Train employees on how to use fire extinguishers and what to do in case of a fuel fire.

      •     Create an emergency response plan for fuel spills, fires, or leaks.

Fuel storage safety is a critical aspect of maintaining a safe work environment. By using the right containers, storing fuel in appropriate locations, and following best practices for handling and fire safety, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with fuel storage. Regular training and inspections will ensure your employees are always prepared to handle fuel safely.

Flammable Cabinet Basics

 

Flammable cabinets are everywhere, and that's a good thing. But everyone might be a little fuzzy on what should get stored inside them. We're here to give you the basics.

1.  Only flammable liquids should be stored inside flammable cabinets.

Sometimes, the cabinets can become a catch-all for all hazardous materials on a site, including any acids, corrosives, or other hazardous substances. However, these should not be stored together with the flammable liquids. A separate cabinet with the appropriate construction and color should be provided for these materials.

2. There are limits to the amounts of each material allowed in a cabinet. 

OSHA sets the limits as follows: "Not more than 60 gallons of Category 1, 2, or 3 flammable liquids, nor more than 120 gallons of Category 4 flammable liquids may be stored in a storage cabinet."

3. Not all flammable cabinets are created equal.

OSHA says the cabinet "shall be designed and constructed to limit the internal temperature to not more than 325 °F. when subjected to a 10-minute fire test." Look for a cabinet that is certified by an independent third party such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual Global (FM), as well as one meets for OSHA and NFPA 30 requirements.

 4. You should avoid storing items on top of flammable cabinets.

They might be a convenient place to set items down, but doing so can pose a risk, especially storing easily combustible items such as paper or cardboard.

There you have it! You never knew you needed a blog post about a cabinet before, but things were not quite as simple as they might seem when it comes to flammable cabinets. Be sure to contact TT&S with any further questions on proper flammable cabinet use.

 

 

Little-Known Facts for HazCom Managers

 

OSHA's hazard communications (HazCom) standard is intimidating, and it changes a lot. Due to efforts to align with international regulations, OSHA makes incremental changes to the standard that can make it hard to keep up with. There are also different aspects of the standard that apply to chemical manufacturers, importers, and employers, so it can be hard to know what might apply to you.

You may also think that if you're job title isn't "hazcom manager," then you're off the hook, but if you:

• Manage or update your company's SDS's, 
• Are in charge of purchasing, 
• Or work with chemicals in your workplace,

then you might just learn something important today. Here's a few aspects of HazCom that are maybe not talked about as much and you should be aware of.

1. SDS's should be kept for 30 years after the chemical or material is no longer in use. (See this OSHA letter of interpretation.)

This one can be a shocker to many, but because SDS's can be used as exposure records as well as an inventory of current materials in use, it's not the best idea to get rid of SDS's as soon as you stop using a product. As it turns out, they are a very effective way to record the hazards an employee was exposed to. 

There is technically an alternative to storing SDS's for that long, but it might be taking the hard way out: "Employers may discard [material] safety data sheets if some record identifying the substances used, where it was used and when it was used is retained for at least 30 years." In the long run, it's probably simpler to just keep the old SDS around.

2. There's a consumer use exception for SDS's, but it's not as useful as you may think.  

Do you need an SDS sheet for every single product in the workplace? Technically no. "OSHA does not require that [M]SDS be provided to purchasers of household consumer products when the products are used in the workplace in the same manner that a consumer would use them, i.e.; where the duration and frequency of use (and therefore exposure) is not greater than what the typical consumer would experience." Great! Get rid of that Windex SDS, stat! 

Except, of course, it's not usually that simple. Is the employee who generally uses Windex using it for the same duration and frequency as a general consumer? Or are they in a facilities maintenance position where they may be using it for many hours a week, much more than a general consumer? If so, an SDS must be kept on file.

The same goes for any product on site. If motor oil is on site, frequency and duration of the product must be considered. Is any one employee exposed more than a general consumer would be? If there's any room for doubt, it's SDS time.

However, that does leave employers off the hook for products that employees may bring into the workplace, such as lotion or hand sanitizer to keep by a desk, or products that genuinely are used in the same manner as a general consumer.

3. All it takes is one unlabelled container. HazCom is almost always one of the top cited OSHA standards, and it's a really easy one to violate. What does it take? One spray bottle without a label can land you a citation. Remember to label your containers, and while you're at it, you want to make sure it's a compliant label too. See example of all required label elements for hazardous chemicals below.

Are there exceptions? Sure, if you transfer a chemical to a portable container for immediate use, you don't need a label. But it might not be a great idea to make a habit of it.

Remember, all of these products may not be as mild or effect-free as you may think. The HazCom standard exists for a reason.... to keep you safe from what might be sneaky effects in the products that you use every day.