Unloading at the Convenience Store
At a Fort Lauderdale station, a driver is delivering 2,500 gallons of gasoline from a 9,000-gallon cargo tank into an underground tank. The station's fill pipe is painted, and the driver's bonding cable clamp is rusty. The station manager says the last driver never bonded and asks the driver to start the transfer and then move the truck to let a customer out. The driver sees no grounding rod at the station, and the fill pipe is 40 feet from the truck. The day is hot and dry, and the station's emergency shutoff is inside the office. The driver has already set the parking brake and chocked the wheels. The truck engine is running to power the pump, and the driver has a 30-minute window.
1. Identify the static and transfer hazards and decide whether the driver should start unloading.
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Do not start the transfer yet. Gasoline can accumulate static during loading and unloading, and the bond is the primary path to equalize potential between the truck and the receiving tank. The painted fill pipe and rusty clamp are both bad contact points; the clamp must bite into clean, bare metal. The missing grounding rod is a separate concern, but bonding is not optional. A hot, dry day increases static risk. The driver should inspect the hose and connections, confirm the product and tank, and make sure the station emergency shutoff is accessible. If a proper bond cannot be made, the driver should stop and call the supervisor rather than rely on the last driver's practice.
2. How should the driver respond to the manager's request to start the transfer and then move the truck?
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The manager's request to start the transfer and then move the truck is unsafe and should be refused. Moving the truck with the hose connected can pull the hose, spray gasoline, and create a fire or environmental release. If the truck must be moved, the driver must first stop the pump, close the tank valves, disconnect the bonding cable and hose, cap the connections, and only then move the vehicle. The transfer should not be left unattended; the driver must stay in control of the valves and able to shut down. The driver should explain the rule to the manager and ask the customer to wait or move to another location.
3. What checks and precautions should be completed before any valve is opened?
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Before opening any valve, the driver should verify the parking brake is set and wheels chocked, confirm the receiving tank has enough outage, connect the bond to clean metal, check the hose for soft spots or leaks, place a spill kit, and ensure no smoking or hot work nearby. The engine may run only if needed to drive the pump, and the driver must remain at the controls. The emergency shutoff must be identified and reachable. The driver should open valves slowly, watch for leaks at the flange, and stay until transfer is complete. After closing, the driver should drain the hose, disconnect the bond last, and secure the equipment.