Everything You Need to Know About Making Your Aboveground Storage Tanks OSHA-Compliant

Fire and explosion, oxygen deficiency and exposure to toxic substances are just a few of the hazards the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lists for those working in or around aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). Whether or not your aboveground containers contain hazardous materials or simply water, an AST that is not designed and maintained properly can pose a risk to your employees and the environment.

As your local source for tank maintenance in Colorado, the experts at DJC Enterprises Inc. have put together a brief overview of everything you need to know to make sure your ASTs are OSHA-compliant. For a comprehensive list of standards and regulations, be sure to check out OSHA’s page on ASTs here.

Installation

Regulations for installation typically depend on the type of substance you intend to store in your AST. For example, installations for ASTs that will contain flammable substances, such as oxygen or propane, must meet installation specifications compliant with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). If the tank will be used to store water, however, the regulations are less stringent, but even a water tank poses certain hazards to the environment and employees if it were to suddenly burst or leak. Installation regulations may also depend on the material the tank is made of. For example, a steel tank may be subject to Steel Tank Institute (STI) standards.

Spill prevention

If you own an AST, you are responsible for taking certain steps to prevent spills, regardless of whether or not your container holds hazardous materials. Some spill prevention methods include overflow tanks, prevention barriers, secondary containment, spill alarms and, of course, regular tank maintenance in Colorado. However, the specific methods you are required to use will depend on the substance you are storing. For example, if your tank is used to hold oil, you will be required to take certain steps to avoid the release of oils to surface waters. For hazardous materials, there are steps that must be taken to avoid the risks of hazardous wastes and gases that could threaten both human lives and the surrounding environment.

Tank integrity and maintenance

Tank integrity is all about having a process in place for regular tank inspection and measures to ensure tank integrity on both a short-term and long-term basis. The integrity of your ASTs can be compromised over time by both the substance within the tank as well as the outside environment. Regular visual checks and regular testing are required to ensure tank integrity. At DJC Enterprises Inc., we offer tank maintenance and sandblasting in Colorado to help you ensure that your tanks are well-maintained and meet OSHA requirements.

If you want to protect your employees and ensure that your ASTs are compliant with both local and federal regulations, it’s important that you stay on top of your tank maintenance. DJC Enterprises Inc. can help with that. To learn more about what we can offer in terms of tank maintenance and sandblasting in Colorado, call us today. We look forward to assisting you!

Categorised in: Sandblasting, Tank Maintenance

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