In light of two recent incidents with biodiesel, the Independent Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) is recommending that facilities that might have biodiesel on site or brought on site to adapt safety practices for rags that come in contact with the product.
ILTA said in a statement on its Web site that the cloths used with biodiesel should be placed in 55-gallon drums marked Biodiesel Rags Only and filled with enough water to cover the saturated rags. Appropriate signage should be posted at all loading and unloading points indicating the cloths should be placed in proper containers.
One incident was reported earlier in which a rag that had been used during gauging biodiesel tanks was discovered smoldering in the bed of a terminal truck. Another incident occurred when saturated rags stored improperly in a container inside a facility caused a chemical reaction that released heat that started a fire.
ILTA also advised facilities to conduct a facility audit for biodiesel exposure, locations of loading/unloading, and the proper location for the biodiesel disposal drum. They should discuss the hazards of biodiesel with all employees and visitors to the facility that might be impacted by biodiesel, and improve housekeeping at all facilities, especially those areas where biodiesel might be present in order to limit the exposure to fire and/or damage in the event of a fire.