Refuelling systems and Fire

Are you using pressurised 'quick-fill' refuelling systems?  Do you know the maximum flow rate your system can accept?  Do you know what flow your pumps actually deliver?  If you don't you may have a mismatch between the fuel delivery and fuel receiving systems.

The NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Mine Safety has just released a Safety Alert prompted by yet another diesel fuel fire initiated during plant refuelling.

Large items of plant are often modified with quick-fill refuelling systems to minimise down-time.  The key recommendations in the Safety Alert should form the basis of a risk assessment before installing quick-fill refuelling systems.  Among these are avoiding systems which rely on tank pressurisation, locating fuel and vent points away from hot engine components and matching fuel dispensing rate with the tank air vent capacity.

Please visit http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/560502/SB15-03-Fires-ignite-while-refuelling-mobile-plant.pdf to view the full article.

Ruth Knight - Senior HSE Consultant