Hiring a Fuel Tank For Your Farm: How to Stay Safe

21 March 2018
 Categories: Business, Blog

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If you are planning to hire a fuel tank for your farm, it is essential that you understand the steps you need to take to ensure that it is operated safely. Below is a guide to everything you need to know about the installation and maintenance of a fuel tank.

Location

Before you hire a fuel tank, you should think carefully about the location where it will be set up. Ideally, you should install the fuel tank at a distance from any occupied buildings. This will help to minimise the risk of injury or death if there is a fire or explosion. You will also need to check the condition of the ground. When full of fuel, the tank will be a considerable weight. You will need to ensure that the ground is firm enough to support the weight of the tank.

Training

When planning to install a fuel tank, you should ensure that everyone who works on your farm understands how the tank works. Ideally, you should use the information provided to you by the hire company to train your staff. You should ensure that your staff understand that they should not smoke in the vicinity of the tank and the steps they should take in the event of an emergency. Emergency actions should be to contact the emergency services and to evacuate the area. Staff should never attempt to fight a fuel tank fire themselves, as this will place their life at risk and is unlikely to be successful. Identifying emergency exit routes will also help to protect life in the event of an emergency.

Inspections

When you hire a fuel tank for your farm, it is likely to be on a long-term basis. Therefore, it is important that you understand the tasks you will need to perform in order to ensure the tank is in good working order. You will need to carry out regular inspections of the tank to check for signs of leaks, cracks or rust. If any signs of leaking or damage are found, you should stop using the tank and contact the hire company to report the problem. The hire company will send out a contractor to inspect the tank, which will then be repaired or replaced. After heavy rain, you will need to check the ground around the tank to check whether it is still firm enough to support the structure.

If you would like further advice, you should contact a fuel tank hire company, like Total Generators, today.