1. Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Responsibilities
Managers/Supervisors:
Ensure that all employees are trained to work with and handle flammable and combustible liquids properly and safely.
Ensure that proper storage, labeling, and personal protective equipment are provided to the employee required to work with flammable and combustible liquids.
Employee:
Ensure that flammable and combustible liquids are stored in approved containers, labeled, and put in proper storage after each use or at the end of every shift.
Wear any additional PPE that may be needed for their protection, and to clean up any spills, and report spills to his/her supervisor.

2. Flammable liquids
Class I - liquids have flashpoints below 100 degrees F, with vapor pressures not exceeding 40 psia
Class IA - liquids having flashpoints below 73 degrees F and boiling points below 100 degrees F 1a

3. Flammable liquids
Class IB - liquids having flashpoints below 73 degrees F and boiling points at or above 100 degrees F
Class IC - liquids having flashpoints at or above 73 degrees F and below 100 degrees F 1b

4. Flammable liquids
Flammable liquids give off ignitable vapors 1c

5. Combustible liquids
Class II liquids have flashpoints at or above 100 degrees F and below 140 degrees F 1d

6. Combustible liquids
Class III liquids have flashpoints at or above 140 degrees F
Class IIIA liquids have flashpoints at or above 140 degrees F and below 200 degrees F
Class IIIB liquids have flashpoints at or above 200 degrees F 1e

7. Handling and storage procedures
Two forms of storage:
Reserve storage in drums
Operational storage in small quantities at work stations
Connect drums to a grounding system
Quantities of flammable and combustible liquid in excess of 25 gallons shall be stored in acceptable or approved fire resistant cabinets.
Cabinets shall be labeled in conspicuous lettering, "Flammable-Keep Fire Away."
Not more than 60 gallons of flammable or 120 gallons of combustible liquids shall be stored in any one storage cabinet.
Not more than three such cabinets may be located in a single storage area.
All approved storage cabinets shall be vented upwards and to the outside of the buildings.
Vent pipes shall be supported and not allowed to be swedged down in size coming out of the cabinets.
Conspicuous and legible signs prohibiting smoking shall be posted.
Storage cabinets must be locked when unattended and are not permitted in hallways and walkways. 2a

8. Handling and storage procedures
Liquids can be dispensed by two methods:
Gravity flow
Pump methods 2b

9. Handling and storage procedures
Areas where flammable liquids are transferred from one container to another must:
be protected from ignition sources
have drainage or other methods to control spills
have natural or mechanical ventilation
Dispensing flammable and combustible liquids
Transfer of flammable liquids from one container to another shall be done only when containers are electrically interconnected (bonded) and grounded.
Transferring by means of air pressure on the container or portable tanks is prohibited.
Dispensing devices, hoses, and nozzles for flammable liquids shall be of an approved type for the material that is being dispensed.
Conspicuous and legible signs prohibiting smoking shall be posted.
Handling liquids at point of final use
Flammable liquids shall be kept in closed containers when not immediately in use.
Leakage or spillage of flammable or combustible liquids shall be cleaned up and disposed of promptly and safely.
Flammable liquids may be used only where there are no open flames or other sources of ignition within 50 feet of the operation, unless conditions warrant greater clearance.
Service and refueling areas
Flammable or combustible liquids shall be stored in approved closed containers, in tanks located underground, or in aboveground portable tanks.
The dispensing nozzle shall be an approved automatic-closing type without a latch-open device.
There shall be no smoking or open flames in the areas used for fueling, receiving or dispensing of flammable or combustible liquids; or servicing fuel systems for internal combustion engines
The engines of all equipment being fueled shall be shut off during the fueling operation.
Each service or fueling area shall be provided with at least one fire extinguisher having a rating of not less than 20-B C located so that an extinguisher will be within 75 feet 2c

10. Handling and storage procedures
Store flammable liquids in approved safety cans
Outdoor portable tank storage
Portable tanks shall not be nearer than 20 feet from any building.
Two or more portable tanks, grouped together, having a combined capacity in excess of 2,200 gallons, shall be separated by a 5-foot-clear area.
A 5-foot-clear area shall separate individual portable tanks exceeding 1,100 gallons.
Storage areas shall be kept free of weeds, debris, and other combustible material not necessary to the storage.
Portable tanks, not exceeding 660 gallons, shall be provided with emergency venting devices.
Conspicuous and legible signs prohibiting smoking shall be posted. 2d

11. Handling and storage procedures
Flammable liquids used at workstations must not exceed the sum of:
25 gallons of Class IA liquids in containers
120 gallons of Classes IB, IC, II, or III liquids in containers
660 gallons of Class IB, IC, Class II, or Class IIIA liquids in a single portable tank
Precautions shall be taken to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors.
Examples of ignition sources are as follows:
Open Flames
Lightning
Hot Surfaces
Radiant Heat
Smoking
Cutting and Welding
Spontaneous Ignition
Frictional Sparks
Static Electricity
Electrical Sparks
Stray Currents
Ovens, Furnaces, and Heating Equipment
Static electricity
All equipment such as tanks, machinery, and piping shall be designed and operated to prevent electrostatic ignitions.
All metallic equipment where an ignitable mixture could be present shall be bonded and grounded.
The bond, ground or both shall be physically applied or shall be inherently present by the nature of the installation.
Any electrically isolated section of metallic piping or equipment shall be grounded to prevent hazardous accumulation of static electricity 2e

12. Handling and storage procedures
Use specially designed waste cans for the disposal of waste
Remember that it is the vapors, not the liquid that burns
Use specially developed absorbent materials for spill cleanup 2f

13. Handling and storage procedures
Compressed Gas Cylinders
Fuel gas cylinders
Shall be stored upright and in a secured manner.
Shall be stored at least twenty feet from oxygen storage or be separated by a five-foot barrier with a fire rating of one-half hour.
Conspicuous and legible signs prohibiting smoking shall be posted.
Valves shall be closed tight on all empty or full cylinders. 2f

14. Flood emergencies
If flammable liquids are stored in tanks, review and understand the location and contents of flood emergency instructions
Emergency action plans 3a

15. Flood emergencies and storage tanks
Keep debris and vegetation away from the tank area
Situate tanks in areas where high-level water will not occur
Anchor horizontal tanks if more than 70 percent of the tank’s capacity will be submerged 3d