Any company which utilizes flammable or combustible liquids obviously has safety procedures in place for them. At a minimum, there must be procedures for handling, moving, storing, and using these dangerous liquids. But, to be sure the procedures are OSHA compliant, it is important to refer to Standard 1910.106, which regulates flammable and combustible liquids.

This standard will usually need to be reviewed in conjunction with others, as it does not cover the individual substances. Instead, it covers how to properly store, use, move, or handle these hazardous liquids. It draws from NFPA Publication 30, relying on the expertise of the NFPA in the area of fire protection.

When storing flammable and combustible liquids, you must determine what medium you will use to store them. Will it be a small container, such as a propane tank, or will it be a huge cylinder beside a building? This is generally determined based upon your company’s needs, but how you manage these different sized storage devices can drastically change how your procedures should look.

For transportation of flammable and combustible liquids, you must think about how you plan to transport said liquids. Will you move the canisters in which they are held? Will you use pipes with valves and specific fittings? How will you test your system of moving the liquids? Depending on your answers to these questions, you may need to have a number of specific procedures in place.

For the handling and use of flammable and combustible liquids, there are basic guidelines set here, but you will likely need to consult the specific standards based upon the materials being used.

Finally, you need to set an auditing schedule for flammable and combustible liquids. This schedule must meet the minimum requirements set in Standard 1910.106.

If you have any questions about Flammable and Combustible Liquids, please contact us. And if you have anything to add about the dangers of flammable and combustible liquids, please leave a comment.