PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-707

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 707

OCTOBER 2011
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-707 - Page 26 of 33
49
PS 707
OCT 11
±
Fuel leaks
±do±more±than±waste±resources±
and± foul± the± environment.± They’re± a± Fre±
hazard.±A±hot±engine±can±ignite±leaking±fuel.±
Clothing±wet±with±fuel±can±catch±Fre±from±the±
static± electricity± on± your± body± and± clothes.±
Metal±scraping±pavement±causes±sparks±that±
can±also±set±fuel±ablaze.
± Inspect± the± fuel± servicing± hose± for± holes,±
tears± or± dry± rot—prime± places± where± leaks±
occur.±Make±sure±the±fuel±service±nozzle±has±a±
gasket.±Inspect±it±for±tears,±cracks±or±dryness.±
Clean± up± any± leaks± you± Fnd± around± your±
truck.±Ask±Feld-level±maintenance±to±replace±
or±repair±leaking±equipment.
± See±to±it±your±unit±has±an±SOP±for±fuel±leaks±
and±spills.±It’s±not±enough±to±know±the±SOP.±
You±need±to±practice±it.±Always±keep±a±spill±
kit± on± your± HEMTT.± Make± sure± the± kit± has±
absorbent±pads,±pillows,±socks±and±dry±sweep.
± One±more±thing:±When±you±use±the±fuel±
service± nozzle,± put± a± drip± pan± under± it± to±
catch±overflow±or±drips.
± ²uel±leaks±you±can±spot.±
Fuel vapors
±you±can’t.±You’ve±got±to±sniff±
them±out.±Liquid±fuel±evaporates,±forms±vapors±and±mixes±with±air.±It’s±
especially±dangerous±in±areas±that±are±poorly±ventilated.±Even±an±empty±
fuel±tank±may±still±have±some±lingering±vapors±mixed±with±air.±Add±a±
flame±or±spark±to±the±mix±and±it±could±explode.
Static Electricity
± One±of±the±greatest±dangers±around±fuel±trucks±is±static±electricity.±An±electrical±charge±
can±build±up±from±the±flow±of±fuel±through±hoses±and±pumps,±and±into±and±out±of±metal±
tanks.±If±the±charge±becomes±too±great,±it±can±spark.±And±that±spark±might±set±off±a±Fre±or±
an±explosion.±That’s±why±you±need±to±bond±and±ground±your±vehicle±before±handling±fuel.
± Bonding±is±when±you±electrically±connect±two±objects±to±make±the±static±charges±on±
them± equal.± ²or± example,± before± you± fuel± or± defuel± a± vehicle± from± a± HEMTT± tanker,±
connect±one±of±the±HEMTT’s±static±cables±to±the±vehicle±being±fueled.
± Grounding±is±when±you±electrically±connect±a±single±vehicle±or±two±bonded±vehicles±to±
a±ground±rod.±In±this±case,±you’d±connect±one±of±the±HEMTT’s±static±cables±to±the±rod.
± ²uel±handlers±should±inspect±the±static±cables±and±connections±daily.±Same±goes±for±the±
ground±rod.
± Static± electricity± can± also± build± up± on±
you±and±your±clothes,±especially±if±they’re±
nylon±or±wool.±Taking±off±charged±clothes±
or±tugging±at±them±could±unleash±a±spark.±
If±the±clothes±are±wet±with±fuel,±they±could±
burst± into± flames.± (Nylon± clothes± have±
another±drawback:±If±they±catch±Fre,±they±
melt.)
± Keep±a±5-gal±water±can±on±your±truck.±
You’ll±need±it±if±fuel±splashes±on±you.±Use±
water±to±rinse±fuel±off±your±clothes±before±
you±strip±down.±Also±use±it±to±flush±your±
eyes±and±skin±as±needed.
± Next± month,± PS± 708± will± present± the±
second±and±Fnal±part±in±this±series±about±
safe±fuel±handling.±Part±II±will±discuss±night±
fueling,± placards,± smoking,± sources± of±
ignition,±Fre±extinguishers±and±education.
Liquid and Vapor
PMCS in the TMs
Before handling fuel, do the
Before PMCS
by the book. See
Chap 4 of these manuals…
TM 9-2320-339-10 for the M978A4
TM 9-2320-348-10 for the M978A2
TM 9-2320-429-10 for the M978
You’ll find the TMs on the
USAMC Logistics Support
Activity ETMs Online website…
etms/online.cfm
You’ll
also
find
them
on EM
0038.
Be alert
to liquid
fuel leaks
and fuel
vapors
around
your
tanker.
Look±at±fuel±hose±for
leaks,±holes±and±tears
Use±static±cable…
Keep±water±handy±to±rinse±fuel±from±clothes
…to±
ground±
HEMTT
707 48-49.indd
1-2
8/26/11
3:10 PM
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