From PEI: How to work safely around tank pads and fuel islands

“Vehicles pose one of the more serious and common hazards in the vicinity of the tank pad and especially around the fuel dispensers,” notes the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) in a recommended practice for the inspection and maintenance of underground storage tank (UST) systems. “Drivers are often distracted and inattentive when approaching fueling locations or maneuvering around the site and may not take appropriate notice of personnel conducting inspections or performing maintenance activities.”

Or refilling the USTs, for that matter.

To wit: a gasoline tanker was refueling a Murphy USA station Feb. 5 on a Wal-Mart site in Royal Palm Beach, Fla., when someone drove over the hose connecting the tanker to the underground tanks, according to a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

No injuries were reported, but Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue had to clean up about 100 gallons of spilled gasoline as a result, Fire-Rescue Capt. Don DeLucia told Sun-Sentinel reporter Chrystian Tejedor.

The precautions described in the Institute’s recommended practice can be applied to any situation where workers are around tank pads or dispensers, whatever their job may be.

Here are two of the safety measures contained in that document:

“At a minimum, workers should wear high-visibility safety vests while working. In general, the most secure method of isolating a work area is to park a service vehicle so that it prevents other vehicles from entering the work area.”

“In the tank pad and fuel dispenser areas, use vehicles, safety cones, barricades or barrier tape to isolate the work area, as appropriate.”
The Jan. 31, 2008, issue of NPN MarketPulse reported on the publication of the PEI Recommended Practice (see “How to Inspect and Maintain Underground Storage Systems” by clicking on “NPN MarketPulse” at npnweb.com).

The RP contains checklists to be referred to in the performance of daily, monthly and annual inspections of UST systems.

“Properly installed and maintained underground storage system equipment is durable and reliable,” the RP states. “However, daily wear and tear, as well as exposure to the corrosive effects of soil, water, and stored product, and seasonal extremes of heat and cold, can degrade or damage storage system components, causing product releases or equipment failure.

The purpose of inspections, the RP points out, “is to identify any noticeable deterioration or apparent malfunction in the portion of the equipment visible beneath grade level access covers located over or near the top of the underground storage tank and at the fuel dispensers."