Safety aspects of handling heavy fuel oils

Summary

• 1. Make sure fuel oil handling facilities conform to N.F.P.A. standards.

• 2. Avoid overshot filling lines.

• 3. Provide weakened seams on above-ground tank roofs.

• 4. Limit storage tank or day tank temperatures to 125°F. Provide positive control to prevent over-heating.

• 5. Make sure thermostats are located in the hottest part of the oil. Operate storage so as not to uncover either the thermostat or the heating coils.

• 6. Do not contaminate fuel oil with water or light hydrocarbon.

• 7. Cool tanks and heaters before introducing water for cleaning.

• 8. Do not perform hot work repairs above the liquid level on tanks in service.

• 9. Do not rely on combustible-gas-indicator readings when the temperature of the vapor space being sampled is above atmospheric.

• 10. Be wary of boil-overs when lighting fuel oil tank fires.