Petroleum Supply Specialist Safety and Operations

Flashcards covering petroleum safety, fire hazards, explosive limits, and refueling procedures based on the Petroleum Supply Specialist Interactive Soldier Guide.

When do electrical equipment and wires create fire hazards?

When they produce exposed electrical currents (arcs and sparks) or when they create excessive amounts of heat.

What three elements must be present for a fire or explosion to occur?

An ignition source, a combustible material (petroleum vapor), and oxygen.

What causes spontaneous combustion and how long does it take to occur?

It is caused by a slow chemical reaction which generates heat, and it may take several days or weeks.

What precautions must be taken regarding radar during refueling operations?

Aircraft must turn off all radar before refueling begins, and fuel should not be stored or refueled within $300\,\text{feet}$ of aircraft approach and traffic control radar.

Why is high frequency radar equipment dangerous near flammable vapors?

The beams can induce heat in solid materials or intensify existing electrical charges to the point where they arc or discharge as a spark.

What is the single greatest cause of fires in petroleum bulk fuel storage?

Cigarettes and matches/lighters.

What specific signage is required to prevent smoking fires, and where should they be placed?

"NO SMOKING WITHIN 50 FEET" signs must be placed where they can be seen before an individual is within $50\,\text{feet}$ of the operation.

What is the requirement for grounding and bonding during petroleum operations?

Always ground and bond petroleum equipment being used (pumps, filter separators, tank trucks, storage tanks, etc.) and the equipment receiving fuel.

What is static electricity?

A stationary electric charge generated by friction between unlike substances or by an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material.

What are the required grounding rod depths for silt and clay?

Silt requires $3\,\text{feet}$ and Clay requires $4\,\text{feet}$.

How must fuel nozzles on tactical systems be modified?

Notched handles must be modified so that the nozzles must be held open by hand.

At what flash point must safety cans or flammable liquid waste containers be labeled according to 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 172?

Containers with a flash point below $100^\circ\text{F}$ ($37.8^\circ\text{C}$).

Why are empty fuel containers considered more dangerous than filled ones?

Because they contain residual vapors.

What procedure must be followed when performing authorized overhead (top-loading) filling?

Ensure the drop tube is close to the bottom of the tank, pump at a reduced rate until the hose end is covered, and ensure metal-to-metal contact between the hose and the tank bottom.

What is the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)?

The lowest concentration (by percentage) of a gas or vapor in air capable of producing a flash of fire; concentrations lower than this are "too lean to burn."

What is the explosive range of JP8 vapors when mixed with air?

From $0.7$ to $5\,\text{percent}$ by volume.

What is the Upper Explosive Limit (UEL)?

The point at which a mixture will not ignite because it is "too rich" (the fuel concentration is too high).

Why is a concentration above the UEL still considered dangerous?

If the concentration is lowered (for example, by introducing fresh air), it will enter the explosive range.

What are the three primary requirements for controlling spills and practicing good housekeeping?

Use a proactive spill prevention program, ensure storage areas are well-ventilated, and discard petroleum waste in accordance with local procedures.

What is the definition of an explosion in the context of petroleum safety?

The instantaneous burning of a mixture of flammable material and air.