Safety concerns while handling diesel:

There are three primary concerns associated with diesel fuel:

1. Flammability: Diesel is not as flammable as gasoline and others but it can
catch fire and can be very difficult to extinguish.
2. Skin Exposure: Diesel fuel can be absorbed through the skin very easily. It
can cause skin irritation, redness and even burns. If the diesel is not cleaned off,
it will adsorb into the skin and cause symptoms identical to inhalation.
3. Inhalation: If diesel vapors are inhaled it can cause dizziness, nausea and
increased blood pressure.

Handling of diesel in drums:

Accidents may occur during handling of drums with hazardous liquids. Hazards
include fires, explosions, vapor generation and physical injury resulting from
moving by hand and working around stacked drums.

Causes of Emergencies
Worker-Related
 Minor accidents (slips, trips, falls).
 Vapour exposure.
 Personal protective equipment failure, tearing or permeation of protective
clothing.
 Physical injury
Product-Related
 Fire.
 Explosion.
 Leak.
 Release of toxic vapours.

Emergency plan
An emergency plan is a written document that sets the procedures for
responding emergencies. It should incorporate the following:
1. Personnel:
- Roles.
- Training.
- Communication.
2. Site:
- Security and control.
- Evacuation routes.
3. Emergency procedures.
4. Reporting.
Action plans for spillage
 stop the leak
 block off any drains or access to drainage
 if spill has entered or is in danger of entering a waterway, boom-off area
to contain spill
 assess the level of the spill and report as necessary
 assess the method of cleanup
 proceed with recovery of spilled fuel and clean-up
 arrange appropriate disposal of fuel recovered and debris (in landfill site)

Recommendations:
 Use of drip Tray
A simple tray placed under storage drums to collect minor leaks and spills.
Suitable for use with a single drum or a few small containers.
Ideal for drums in storage or at their point of use.
If you store oil on a drip tray in drums, the tray must be able to contain at least
25% of the total drum volume.
 Absorbent pad to be make available for spill control.
 MSDS to be displayed in diesel yard.
 Weighment can be done with Weigh Bridge before and after filling diesel
with truck. Difference between the final and initial weight gives the
quantity of diesel purchased.

Procedures for handling diesel drums:

Flow chart for drum handling

Inspection

Inspect drums

Planning
Handling
necessary Develop a handling plan

Opening Handling

Open drums Orient drums for

opening

Bulking

Transfer drums contents

into bulk container/
diesel tank

Inspection:

 Empty drums should be inspected before sending out for loading.

a. Drum emptiness
b. Rusty or dented drums are unlikely to be fit for use. Remove any
damaged or unsuitable drums if identified
 Loaded/ filled drums should be checked for
a. Level by dip rod
b. leak
Handling plan:

 Handling plan includes unloading of drums from truck and stocking of

drums in the yard.
 Prior to handling or transporting, make sure all non-essential personnel
have moved a safe distance away.
 Ensure proper PPE’s to be used for handling.
 If a drum containing a liquid cannot be moved without rupture,
immediately transfer its contents to another drum or diesel tank.
 Maintain communication with the control room until handling operations
are complete.
 Have a dry chemical fire extinguisher on side to control small fires.

Opening and bulking:

 It includes proper opening of drums without any damage to the drum and
sudden exposure of vapour.
 Pumping of diesel from drum to diesel tank using diaphragm pump.
 Open the air valve, check the air pressure and it should not exceed 5
kg/sq.cm
 Pump and hoses/line should be checked for any leakage.
 Close the air valve after drum getting emptied.
 Segregate the empty drums from filled drums.
 Over filling of diesel tank is not allowed. Space should be given for
vapour.
 Spillage if any should be immediately reported.

Registers/ documents maintaining for handling of diesel drums:

 Returnable material gate pass

 Returnable gate pass register.
 Material inward register.
 Diesel register.
a. Outward record for empty diesel drums
b. Inward record for filled diesel drums