OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
August 31, 1990
| MEMORANDUM FOR: |
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS |
| FROM: |
THOMAS J. SHEPICH
Director
Directorate of Technical Support |
| SUBJECT: |
Hazard Information Bulletin on Underground Storage Tanks
(USTs) |
The Directorate of Technical Support issues Hazard Information Bulletins
(HIBs) in accordance with OSHA Instruction CPL 2.65 to provide relevant
information regarding unrecognized or misunderstood safety and health
hazards, inadequacies of materials, devices, techniques, and engineering
controls. HIBs are initiated based on information provided by the field
staff, studies, reports and concerns expressed by safety and health
professionals, employers, and the public. Information is compiled based on a
comprehensive evaluation of available facts, literature and in coordination
with appropriate parties. HIBs do not necessarily reflect OSHA policy.
Several million underground storage tank systems (USTs) in the United States
contain petroleum or hazardous chemicals. Tens of thousands of these USTs,
including their piping are currently leaking. Many more are expected to leak
in the future. Leaking USTs can cause fires or explosions that threaten
worker's safety.
In December 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented
underground storage tank regulations requiring UST owners to upgrade or
remove from service tanks that do not meet EPA standards. Since the
implementation of EPA's tank regulations, many occupational injuries and
fatalities have occurred; a result of cave-ins, explosions, and chemical
overexposure. Clearly, this indicates that UST owners and service providers
may be unaware of the dangers associated with improper tank servicing,
closure, or removal. UST closure, removal and servicing involve exposures to
numerous hazards which are listed below:
* trenching and excavation
* tank pressure testing
* purging and inerting of tanks
* buried utilities
* heavy equipment operation
* fire and explosion hazards
* chemical exposure to hazardous substances
* tank/confined space entry
* general safety hazards, including ignition
sources, electrical hazards, powered equipment
hazards, walking working surface hazards
Since tank servicing and closure operations involve explosive vapors and/or
hazardous chemicals, potential ignition sources, open pits and other perils,
compliance officers have a need to be able to recognize the potential dangers
of tank servicing and closure operations. The attached copy of the
video/booklet set, Tank Closure Without Tears: An Inspector's Safety Guide,
prepared by New England Institute Water Pollution Control Commission, will
serve as a suitable training aid. This material will help compliance
officers to recognize and evaluate potential hazards and learn how such
hazards can be controlled. A listing of other references related to safety
during tank closure appear on the last page of the booklet.
Please distribute this bulletin to all area offices, State Plan States and
Consultation Project Officers.
|
Back to Top
Printing Instructions