Number One Priority: Working Safely with Combustible and Flammable Liquids

Working near flammable or combustible liquids presents a number of serious risks. However, if you follow good safety practices, you can minimize these risks and ensure that you stay safe when working around flammable liquids.

Anyone working around them needs to take strict safety measures to avoid accidents. So if you or your employees work around flammable liquids, here are some of the most safety tips and guidelines to ensure everyone stays safe.

Store Materials with Care

One of the first things to remember is to ensure any flammable materials are stored safely. When you are not using the materials, ensure that they are kept somewhere cool and dry. The containers should be approved for holding the materials, and they should be securely closed at all times.

You should also inspect the containers for any signs of damage. Damaged containers can increase the risk of accidents, so ensure that they are in good condition and working properly, and make sure someone inspects them regularly in your place of work.

Prohibit Heat Sources

Whether the materials are being stored or being used, ensure that they are always kept far away from any heat sources. It is good fire prevention practice to prohibit all matches, lighters, and smoking, and ensure nothing that can produce sparks or flames is anywhere near, including hot surfaces like irons and electric coils.

Take Care when Handling Materials

When handling flammable liquids, make sure you dispense them safely and only from one container at a time, never more. And always close the containers afterward.

Wear Protective Clothing

You can ensure yourself and your employees stay even safer by wearing protective clothing like fire-resistant clothing. For example, you could ensure everyone on your team wears FR pants or fire resistant shirts, and this can reduce the risk of injuries caused by fire.

Dispose of Flammable Liquids Safely

When it comes to disposing of flammable liquids, make sure you only do this in containers that are approved for disposal. Store waste materials as you would store other liquids that you plan to use, and use safety disposal cans that have been approved.

Ensure Good Ventilation

A danger is also posed by the fumes, so always ensure the area is well ventilated when storing or using flammable liquids. This can also help to reduce the risk of fire. How much ventilation? It depends on the materials, the job, the work area, and other factors, so make sure you find out.

Transport Materials Safely

When transporting flammable materials, make sure you do so safely. There are lots of regulations surrounding this, including the need to use the correct portable containers such as fuel tanks, so make sure you know the regulations and follow them carefully.

Stay Safe Around Flammable Liquids

Flammable liquids present many dangers, but as long as you take safety practices seriously, you can minimize the risk for you and your employees.

Make sure that everyone who works with or around the flammable liquids has a good awareness of the hazards that they present as well as how dangerous they can be and what they should do in the event of an emergency.

Then ensure you put these good safety guidelines into practice so that everyone stays safer around flammable liquids and that accidents are avoided.