How to Minimise Risks

All risks arise because petroleum products are basically composed of hydrocarbons:
 
All of which are flammable,some of which are toxic, and some component parts of which may constitute a health hazard.

Storage And Handling

Health Risks

Simple Rules to Follow

Risks are generally associated with fire or explosion resulting from the accessibility of hydrocarbon vapours to air and the proximity of a potential source of ignition. Many sources are hot enough to ignite the correct mixture of air and fuel and some of these are:

The red heat of a cigarette, kerosene heater or electric radiator An electric spark, from a light switch, faulty cable, car ignition or welding unit A mechanical spark from a striking steel on concrete or from a grinding wheel An unshielded flame such as from a match, lighter, welding or cutting equipment or gas refrigerator (which could be in Campervan or Caravan).

Storage and handling techniques that maximise safety from fire are described in the New Zealand Government Dangerous Goods Regulations, supported by Local Body supervision and codes of practice. In cases of fire and uncontrolled spillages call the Fire Service immediately.

Related Links:

To find out more about  the requirements for handling dangerous goods for local and regional councils, visit the New Zealand government services site.

In comparison with the hazards associated with fire, those associated with health are less well known. Petroleum products are regarded as being dangerous to human health if they cause injury once they reach a susceptible site on or within the body.

 

This could happen by:

Ingestion (swallowing) or Aspiration (liquids getting into the lungs)

Ingestion is not considered a normal hazard particularly with adults who are alerted by the taste and smell of a petroleum product. This is not the case with children who may gulp liquid down before they notice anything strange about taste or smell. Children are more at risk as their small bodies are less able to tolerate so much foreign substance.    A most significant hazard is swallowing gasoline when siphoning product by mouth. This should never be done or allowed. There is equipment available to siphon or pump products without the need for any oral contact.   Precautions When someone has swallowed enough petroleum products to make them vomit involuntarily it is imperative to hold their heads well down to prevent liquid being sucked (aspirated) into the lungs. Apart from the risk of drowning, there is also the risk of chemically induced pneumonia, which can be fatal.   First Aid Dilute stomach contents by giving water or milk to drink. Do NOT induce vomiting before seeking medical advice.

Inhalation (Breathing)

A frequent way of coming into contact with petroleum products is to inhale them as vapour or mist in a worksite.  With volatile products like gasoline or kerosine, adequate containment and ventilation must be in place to limit the release of vapour and the formation of mists. Not only to prevent fire or explosion, but also to protect people from the effects of petroleum products in their respiratory systems.   Vapours and Gases Gasoline, hydrocarbon solvents and LPG gases are the most hazardous petroleum products at normal temperatures and pressures as vapours create a fire risk, and they can build up very rapidly in poorly ventilated areas, creating a risk of asphyxiation for people working in the area. The problem, though potentially severe, diminishes through kerosines, diesoline, fuel oil and lubricants, as their vapour pressures are too low to pose these hazards under normal conditions.   Mists While kerosine, diesoline, fuel oil and lubricants are less likely to produce as high vapour concentrations as gasoline they are very prone to the formation of mists as a result of their dispersion in air by mechanical processes. Mists are regarded as toxic by inhalation as the micro-droplets can coalesce on the lung surfaces and prevent extraction of oxygen from the air by creating a barrier.   Precautions Despite the variation that exists between products, under poor ventilation and high temperatures vapour can occur with all products, and under working conditions mists can occur at any temperature. It is therefore necessary to take precautions to avoid breathing any vapour or mist by using, for instance, air breathing apparatus, ventilation and extraction fans to remove mists and vapour from the working areas.   First Aid Symptoms, which occur if vapour or mist is inhaled, include irritation of the nose and throat, nausea, headache, dizziness, and depression.  In extreme cases unconsciousness. Move the affected person to fresh air.  If not breathing, apply artificial respiration. SEEK MEDICAL HELP URGENTLY.

Contact with Skin and Eyes

In the course of their work some people continually handle petroleum products.  The hands can pass these products on to other parts of the body.  If this occurs regularly and frequently it may give rise to various skin complaints.  Prolonged contact through improper use can cause dermatitis or even, where heavy contamination occurs, over many years, possibly skin cancer. Long-term contact with any hydrocarbon has a degreasing effect on the skin; this can lead to chapping which can in turn give rise to infection.  For safety's sake handle these products with care.   First Aid Eyes: flood with copious amounts of water, blinking as often as possible. Do NOT force the eyelids open. OBTAIN MEDICAL ATTENTION IF IRRITION PERSITS.   Skin: wash with water and soap. Use barrier hand creams before commencing work. OBTAIN MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR ANY PERSISTENT SKIN ABNORMALITY.

Those most at risk are people who use petroleum products every day over periods of months or years, not those who work with them only occasionally.

 

When working regularly with any petroleum products, these simple rules should be followed

1. Protect all susceptible body parts by using suitable protective clothing, eg: goggles overalls, gloves   To minimise skin contamination by oils, wear protective gloves and aprons and suitable outer overalls. Where soluble oil concentrates are being handled wear goggles or face visors.   Protective clothing should be cleaned at regular intervals to remove oil. It is most important to avoid wearing oil-soaked clothing, and hands should be cleaned with disposable wipes, which must not be kept in overall or trouser pockets after use.   Protective clothing, which has holes in it, or is saturated with oil, is worse than useless as it provides a false sense of security. Gloves can become contaminated on the inside and when worn again will bring the skin into close and repeated contact with oil. A system of regular and frequent changing and cleaning of all protective clothing is the best safeguard.   Where contamination with mineral oils occurs regularly at work, for example, when using soluble cutting oils with high-speed machinery, it is necessary to give more rigorous attention to adequate laundering and regular changes of clothing and underclothing. To avoid soiling of clean clothing, contaminated clothing should be stored separately from street clothing.

2. Clean the skin thoroughly as soon as possible after it has been contaminated with a petroleum product   Oil should not be left on the skin for any prolonged period, particularly if used regularly. Skin contaminated with oil should be cleaned with mild soap or suitable hand cleansers at regular intervals, and particularly at the end of a working period.   Where mineral oils are used regularly a shower at the end of the day is effective in removing all traces of oil from the skin. Strong soaps and detergents and abrasive skin cleansers should be avoided as these they can cause skin irritation. Use warm water, mild soap or proper skin cleanser and a soft brush. These will clean the skin properly and safely with a little care and time. Solvents such as petrol, kerosine, trichloroethylene and similar fluids should not be used for cleaning oil off the skin.   The regular washing needed in industry often removes the natural oils in the skin, which form a protective barrier.   The natural protective barrier can be re-placed to a certain extent by using skin-reconditioning creams containing lanolin or vegetable oils after finally washing the hands at the end of the work period.

3. Care for the skin properly   Where any sign of irritation or rash appears on the skin, medical attention should be sought at the earliest opportunity. Skin complaints are not necessarily connected with the job, but giving a doctor proper information about the working situation can be important for the identification of their cause.   If the skin is cut or scratched, prompt and skilled first aid attention should be sought. Proper cleaning of wounds and abrasions and adequate covering with suitable dressings is important in preventing dermatitis. Strong antiseptics, which may irritate the skin, should be avoided.