Write a safe work procedure for 1. Purpose 1.1. This procedure is intended to provide a basic understanding of the issues with handling flammable and combustible liquids and evaluating the associated potential hazards, communicating information concerning these hazards, and establishing appropriate procedures and protective measures for PNMI employees. 2. Scope 2.1. The conditions and requirements of this procedure shall be applied at all work sites owned, operated, or serviced by PNMI. It applies to all PNMI workers who are required to handle flammable or combustible liquids and encompasses all PNMI work activities. Handling refers to actions such as transferring, dispensing, filling and draining of such liquids. The HSE Manager is responsible for all facets of this program and has full authority to make the necessary decisions to ensure the success of the program. The HSE Manager is authorized to amend these instructions, and everyone is authorized to halt any operation of the PNMI where there is danger of serious personal injury. 3. General Requirements 3.1. Precision North Machining Inc. (PNMI) will review and evaluate this procedure on a regular basis, when changes occur in legislation, or when operational changes occur that require a revision of this document. This procedure will be communicated to all applicable personnel. When and where ever possible Non-Flammable and or Combustible liquids are to be used. 4. Liquid Classification 4.1. The following classifications are used: 4.1.1. Flammable Liquids: Liquids having a flash point below 37.8 degree C. 4.1.2. Combustible Liquids: Liquids having a flash point at or above 37.8 degree C. Combustible liquids that are heated above their flash point must also be treated as flammable liquids. 4.1.3. The table below highlights the key properties with regards to fire safety, for some of the common liquids encountered in PNMI’s daily operations. The Class in the table refers to NFPA 30 criteria for flammable or combustible liquids. Fluid Physical State Specific Gravity Boiling Point Flash Point LEL UEL Class Flammable or Combustible Gasoline Clear Liquid 0.80 64’C 11’C 6.0% 36% I Flammable Diesel Straw-Liquid 0.83-0.876 160-366’C >52’C 0.6% 7.5% II & III Combustible Varsol Clear Liquid 0.79 159’-200’C 42’C 0.8 6.0 III Combustible Methanol Clear Liquid 0.80 64’C 11’C 6.0% 36% I Flammable 5. Potential Hazards 5.1. Typical hazards associated with the improper handling of flammable or combustible liquids include: 5.1.1. Release of flammable vapours or the uncontrolled venting of potentially flammable mixtures of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere. 5.1.2. Creation of an ignitable mixture of air and flammable vapour, which could result in a fire or an explosion. (i.e.: parts washing) 5.1.3. An increased risk of fire and/or explosion when handling flammable liquids in pressurized or contained environments. 5.1.4. Build-up of static electricity and ignition of flammable vapours during transfer operations, or storage. 5.1.5. The loss of tank containment or another type of incident, resulting in a spill or leak of flammable liquids creating a flammable environment. 5.1.6. The creation of an ignition source in a flammable environment. 5.1.7. Mishandling of combustible liquids that are heated above there flash point, which is the point they become flammable liquids. 5.1.8. Toxic properties of some flammable or combustible liquids, which can result in the exposure of employees or others. 6. Potential Sources of Ignition 6.1. When handling flammable or combustible liquids, and when simply in the presence of these liquids, it is important to visually inspect the area for potential sources of ignition. Potential sources of ignition include but are not limited to:  Open Flames;  Lightening, Smoking  Hot Surfaces, Radiant Heat;  Spark producing mechanical equipment;  Cutting Welding;  Spontaneous Combustion;  Static Electricity, Electrical Sparks  Direct or In-direct fired equipment (e.g. glycol heaters, ovens, and heating equipment.) 7. General Rules 7.1. The following rules are to be followed when working with flammable or combustible liquids; 7.2. A Class B (or ABC) fire extinguisher must be readily available (within reach) while working with or near flammable and combustible liquids. 7.3. An open flame is not permitted within 25m of any potential source of ignitable vapour without a hot work permit. 7.4. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas and/or 25m away from any potential sources of ignitable vapour. 7.5. A hot work permit must be issued before any spark-producing task (e.g. cutting, grinding) can take place in an area containing flammable liquids. The preference would be to be remove the flammable liquids from the source of ignition prior to starting the task. 7.6. Where flammable or combustible liquids are a “controlled product” PNMI will ensure that all workers in the vicinity of use or storage are trained in Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) requirements. 7.7. When a flammable or combustible liquids are handled, used, stored, all sources of ignition must be eliminated or adequately controlled. Sources of Ignition see Section: 6. 7.8. Adequate ventilation must be part of the controls implemented when working or in areas that flammable and combustible liquids are present. Workers are prohibited from entering or remaining in a work areas that has more than 10% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) of an explosive substance present in the atmosphere. 7.9. The following ventilation requirements are to be met when handling flammable or combustible liquids to ensure that the resulting vapours do not create a flammable or toxic atmosphere. Vapours emitted by flammable and combustible liquids are heavier than air and as a result, they will accumulate in low-lying areas. 7.9.1. Continuous mechanical ventilation in any area where flammable liquids are being handled in a way that vapours are released. 7.9.2. Either natural or continuous mechanical ventilation in any area where flammable liquids are being handled in a way that does not release vapours in areas where combustible liquids are being handled. 7.10. If it is not practicable to maintain the airborne concentration of a flammable gas or vapour below the applicable exposure limit, (i.e., in a temporary situation, an emergency only the minimum number of workers necessary for the work may be exposed, and the concentration limit must not exceed 20% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL). BC OHS Regulations Sec: 5.21(a) 7.11. Absorbent materials must be used to clean small spills and leaks. The following two conditions apply when handling flammable or combustible liquids: 7.11.1. Absorbent materials shall be available in the areas where flammable and combustible liquids are being handled. 7.11.2. Used rags and similar materials contaminated with flammable liquids or combustible liquids are a fire hazard and must be stored in the designated oil rag receptacles. 7.12. Contaminated wasted materials are to be disposed of in the appropriate closed receptacles. 8. Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E.) 8.1. When transferring flammable or combustible liquids, the use of goggles and face shield to protect the face and eyes from splashes or spray must be worn; also 8.2. Rubber gloves are to worn to protect the hands. 8.3. When required protective clothing is to be worn to prevent the contamination of employees clothing. 8.4. Where a respiratory hazard exists, the use of certified respiratory personal protection is required. 9. Flammable Liquids Transfer 9.1. Transferring flammable liquids from one container to another presents a special hazard. Conductive containers (i.e. Metallic) used to transfer flammable liquids must be electrically bonded to each other or electrically grounded while there contents are being transferred from one container to another (B.C. OHS Regulations Sec:5.28). 9.1.1. Bonding and Grounding: 9.1.1.1. Bonding and Grounding are required to prevent the build-up of static electricity, which can be a source of ignition in a flammable environment. For this to occur, four conditions must be fulfilled: 9.1.1.1.1. A means of generating an electrostatic charge must be present. 9.1.1.1.2. A means of accumulating an electrostatic charge that is capable of producing a spark must be present. 9.1.1.1.3. A means of discharging the accumulated electrostatic charge across a gap must be present. 9.1.1.1.4. An ignitable vapour-air mixture must be present in the spark gap. 10. Fueling 10.1. Refer to Safe Work Practice 12.15: (5) Fueling 11. Transportation of Dangerous Goods Requirements (TDG) 11.1. All goods that are regulated under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) legislation must be documented and marked in accordance with the TDG regulations. At a minimum, all loads should include a complete bill of lading, vehicle safety placards, safety data sheets, and emergency contact information. 11.2. All containers used in service of transporting dangerous goods must have a plate attached to the shell or to an integral part of the structure of the container. Any container built after July 1, 1995, must be built to the CSA B620 standard and must have a plate attached to it. 12. Hot Work 12.1. Refer to Safe Work Practice 12.13 Hot Work 13. Initial Competency Training 13.1. PNMI shall provide training to ensure that the purpose, function, and proper handling of flammable and combustible liquids to be used in the normal function of their jobs is understood by employees and that the knowledge and skills required for the safe application and usage is acquired by employees. This procedure shall be provided to and read by all employees receiving training. The training shall include, as a minimum, the following:  Types of liquids to be handled and there appropriate use;  Recognition of the applicable hazards associated with the liquids that are to be used to be completed the job;  Container selection, maintenance, and inspection;  All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where flammable and combustible liquids could present a hazard to someone other than the user will be instructed to an awareness level concerning hazards;  Containers with identification numbers will be checked for legibility; and  Ensure that proper containers are chosen and used for transportation, storage and field use of for flammable and combustible liquids. 13.2. Training shall be provided by the appropriate Supervisor with input where required by the Health and Safety Manager. 14. Re-Fresher Training 14.1. Competency describes the knowledge and skills required to successfully perform the technical aspects of a job (task). 14.2. This procedure shall be provided to and read by all employees receiving refresher training. The training content shall be identical to initial training. Refresher training will be conducted on an as­ needed basis or when the following conditions are met, whichever event occurs sooner. 14.3. Retraining shall be provided for all authorized and affected employees whenever (and prior to) there is a change in their job assignments, a change in the type of handling procedure used, or when a known hazard is added to the work environment. 14.4. Additional retraining shall also be conducted whenever a periodic inspection reveals, or whenever PNMI has reason to believe, that there are deviations from or inadequacies in the employee's knowledge for the handling of flammable and combustible liquids. 14.5. The retraining shall re-establish employee proficiency and shall introduce new or revised methods and procedures, as necessary. 14.6. The retraining shall re-establish employee proficiency and shall introduce new or revised methods and procedures, as necessary. 15. Storage 15.1. Flammable and combustible liquids that are not in use, must be stored properly so as not to present a hazard within the storage process. All storage container, cabinets and areas must meet CSA standards. This does not refer to flammable or combustible liquids in the process of being used. This is intended for miscellaneous storage of small quantities of flammable and combustible liquids. 15.2.  Containers with flammable or combustible liquids must be kept closed and must be stored in either a flammable liquid cabinet, a flammable liquid storage room or a designated outdoor storage area.  Flammable or combustible liquids are not to be stored in or adjacent to exits, elevators or principle routes that provide access to exits.  Containers and materials stored in flammable materials storage rooms must be arranged in a way that allows for aisles of at least 1m in width.  Flammable liquids and combustible liquids are to be stored for longer than two years without being sold, used, or discarded.  Portable storage containers for flammable liquids must meet ULC/ORD-C30-Safety Containers or CSA-B3676-Portable Containers for Gasoline and other Petroleum Fuels.  Flammable liquids must not be handled in or next to basements, pits or any extreme low lying area, as vapours emitted by flammable liquids are heavier than air and will accumulate in low-lying areas.  Flammable and Combustible Liquids and or materials are to be stored separately from any source of ignition.  Flammable and Combustible Liquids and or materials must be stored separately from any substance that they be reactive to or with. 16. Glossary 16.1. The following definitions and acronyms are specific to this document;  Boiling Point: The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is 101.4kPa (14.7psi) As the temperature approaches the boiling point of a liquid, the transition from liquid to gas is faster and the vapour concentration can be very high. In the case of a flammable liquid, this would create a highly flammable environment.  Flash Point: The minimum temperature of a liquid at which sufficient vapour is given off to form an ignitable mixture with the air neat the surface of the liquid or within a vessel used. This is a critical property for evaluating the hazard of a flammable or combustible liquid.  Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): The minimum concentration of a flammable vapour in the air below which ignition will occur. An increase in temperature, pressure, and or oxidant concentration will result in a higher UEL.  Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): The maximum concentration of a flammable vapour in the air above which ignition will cannot occur. An increase in temperature, pressure, and or oxidant concentration will result in a higher UEL.