Safe Fuel Handling Practices

Safe handling of fuel is everyone's responsibility. You can take steps to ensure that your own safety and health, as well as that of those around you and the environment, are protected. Improper handling of fuel can result in serious injury or death caused by fire, explosion, or asphyxiation. Fuel released into the environment can contaminate soil and groundwater resulting in costly cleanups. Contaminated groundwater supplies may sicken people and animals who unknowlingly drink the polluted water. Gasoline vapors are harmful to human health even at low concentrations and are potentially dangerous at high concentrations. Some very simple steps can alleviate many of these problems. Here are some examples of what you can, and should, do to ensure safe fuel handling.

UST Owners And Operators

Federal regulations under 40 CFR Section 280.30 describe actions that UST owners and operaters must take to prevent accidental spills and overfills. When a delivery is being made to fill an UST, the owner and operator has the responsibility to:

Ensure that the volume available in the tank is greater than the volume of product to be transferred to the tank before the transfer is made.
Ensure that the transfer operation is monitored constantly to prevent overfilling and spilling.

It's a good idea to physically measure (don't rely solely on automated devices) the level of fuel that is already in the tank before beginning preparations to re-fill the tank. To be safe, measure twice and double-check your calculations (have someone else check your calculations as well). During re-filling, the delivery person should never leave the tanker unattended while fuel is being transferred. It is important to take extra precautions upfront and avoid costly and potentially disastrous accidents.

Additional information about proper filling procedures may be found in the National Fire Protection Association Publication 385. Further guidance on spill and overfill prevention appears in American Petroleum Institute Publication 1621, "Recommended Practice for Bulk Liquid Stock Control at Retail Outlets," and National Fire Protection Association Standard 30, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code."

Patrons At Filling Stations

When you stop to re-fuel your automobile (or gasoline container):

Turn off your engine.
Do not smoke or light matches or lighters.
Stand upwind of the nozzle while refueling and try to not breath the fumes.
Do not top off your tank. Even little drips that fall onto the pavement can contaminate soil, groundwater, or surface water.
Do not leave your vehicle unattended while the pump is running.

Homeowners And Other Fuel Users

Here are some tips for safe fuel handling at home:

Never attempt to start a siphon by mouth
Only store fuel in approved containers. These containers are usually color coded and marked for a particular type of fuel. For instance, gasoline storage containers are usually red and marked "gasoline." Kerosene containers are blue.
Don't store more than a few gallons of fuel (e.g., 1-5 gallons).
Be careful to not overfill the tank on yard and recreational equipment. Just a few ounces of spilled fuel may be enough to contaminate your own well.
Never re-fill a gas tank while a machine is running or while it's still hot.
Never smoke while re-fueling.
Never use gasoline to start a charcoal grill or wood fire.
Dispose of old fuel properly. Do NOT pour fuel onto the ground, or into storm drains, septic tanks, outhouses, or sewers.
Never use gasoline as a means to control weeds or pests.

Boat Owners

Since many boats are re-fueled while the boat is in the water, the potential for spills and overfills to contaminate surface water is quite high. Some tips for safe re-fueling include the following:

Do not top off your tank.
Shake the nozzle while it is still in the tank to prevent the last couple of drops from falling directly into the water.
Keep your engine properly tuned to ensure complete combustion of fuel and reduce discharge of unburned fuel into the water.
Do not operate motorized watercraft on water supply reservoirs.

More Information

Additional information about safe handling of fuels may be found at the following web sites:

Alliance for Proper Gasoline Handling (Gas Care)
American Petroleum Institute (API) (Safety In Your Home)