Everyday Hazmat User's Training Guide
Section III Hazardous Materials Management (continued)
Flammable Liquids (continued)
Outdoor Storage
USDA Forest Service policy and Federal regulations also determine how to store flammable liquids outside buildings. The primary considerations are the amount of flammable liquids being stored and how close the materials are to structures, property lines, and roads. Empty containers previously used for flammable liquids must be stored as if they still contain a flammable liquid.
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Other Important Requirements
- Spill control and secondary containment are required if any individual
container has more than a 55-gallon capacity, or if the total capacity of
all containers exceeds 1,000 gallons.
- All drums and portable tanks must be properly
labeled.
- Each storage area must have a NO SMOKING sign.
- All containers must be sound and tightly closed at all times.
- Drums must be protected from the weather.
- Each group must be protected from tampering; use guard posts to prevent
stored materials from being damaged by vehicles.
- If a canopy or roof is used, the walls and supports must not restrict
more than 25 percent of the perimeter of the storage area, or the configuration
must be considered an inside storage area. The canopy and roof must be constructed
of noncombustible materials.
- Access must be available for firefighting equipment to reach each group.
Dispensing
Dispensing class IA, IB, and IC flammable liquids can be dangerous, especially in enclosed areas. Follow the regulatory restrictions on dispensing all flammable products and check with your local fire marshal to see whether your area may have more restrictive requirements.
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Other Important Requirements
- Do not dispense flammable liquids inside a building
unless the building is
specifically designed for indoor dispensing.
- Bond the container to the drum
before dispensing.
- Do not dispense fuels into a container in a plastic-lined
truck bed.
- Never pressurize the drum to aid in dispensing flammable liquids.
- Have
spill containment and cleanup materials readily available.
- Have the MSDS on
hand.
- Use personal protective equipment as specified by the MSDS.
- Use secondary
containment for drums when dispensing.
- Do not dispense flammable liquids within
25 feet of any ignition source.
- Do not dispense flammable liquids near open
flames or hotwork.
- Post NO SMOKING signs in areas where you are dispensing flammable
liquids.
- Do not dispense flammable liquids within 25 feet of building openings,
property lines, alleys, or public ways.
- All but class IA liquids can be gravity
dispensed through a self-closing or
automatic-closing valve.
- Spill control and secondary containment are required
if:
- Flammable liquid is dispensed into a container exceeding 1.1 gallons.
- Any container exceeds 55 gallons.
- The total capacity of all containers inside a building exceeds 100 gallons.
- The capacity of all containers outdoors exceeds 5.3 gallons.
Transportation
Requirements for flammable liquids depend on the amount of liquids being transported. The requirements include placarding, the type of vehicle that can be used, and the types of roads that can be traveled. Transportation by aircraft must be coordinated with the aircraft’s owners/operators. If you plan to move flammable liquids by air, refer to the USDA Forest Service Interagency Aviation Transport of Hazardous Materials.
USDA Forest Service-Operated Pickups and Trucks
- You can avoid placarding and shipping papers by transporting
gasoline in containers that do not weigh more than 66 pounds (including
packaging) or hold more than 8 gallons. The total weight of all containers
may not exceed
440 pounds. See your hazmat coordinator for details or if you are transporting
other flammable liquids.
- Regardless of how much hazardous materials are being
shipped, the driver must be informed of the
types of products and their quantities.
- Remember, to avoid the complexities
of shipping papers, placarding, and emergency response training, keep the
total weight of all hazardous materials below 440 pounds, and the weight of each compressed
gas cylinder below 220 pounds.
- Do not transport materials that are incompatible
with each other.
- Fuel may be carried in the tanks of powered equipment such as ATVs, snowmobiles, and chain saws. All powered equipment must be carried outside the passenger compartment.
Other Requirements
- No smoking during loading and unloading.
- Keep fire
away from the vehicle.
- Prevent the vehicle from moving (set
brakes).
- Use tools that will not damage packaging.
- Brace packages to prevent
them from moving.
- Keep packages dry during shipment.
- Have shipping papers
in order.
- If the load exceeds 119 gallons or is 1,001 pounds or more, the driver
must have a
commercial driver’s license, hazmat endorsement, a medical certificate, and the
training required by the DOT.
- Make sure each container is marked with the proper name, shipping name, and identification number.
Vehicle Placard
Identification Number
(Be sure to select the
proper number based
on the specific
product.)
If you have anything other than the products shown above, contact your hazmat coordinator for specific guidance—restrictions and dangers may be significantly greater than for the flammable liquids described here.
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