Diesel Fuel Safety

Shared by Garrett Nygard

Always exercise caution when refilling or handling diesel fuel as it can pose health risks if it comes into contact with skin or by accidental ingestion. When away from your home site and filling up on the road, should you become exposed, the local gas-station can be asked to produce the SDS for required first aid measures.

First Aid Measures

Inhalation

• Remove yourself from further exposure. 
• For those providing assistance, avoid exposure to yourself or others. Use adequate respiratory protection. 
• If respiratory irritation, dizziness, nausea, or unconsciousness occurs, seek immediate medical assistance. 
• If breathing has stopped, assist ventilation with a mechanical device or use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Skin Contact

• Remove any contaminated clothing. Always keep a backup set of clothes in your vehicle just in case!
• Dry wipe the exposed skin and cleanse with waterless hand cleaner and follow by washing thoroughly with soap and water.
• Wear your personal protective equipment (PPE). In this instance impervious gloves to avoid further contact.
• Launder contaminated clothing separately before reuse and discard contaminated articles that cannot be laundered.
• If product is injected into or under the skin, or into any part of the body, regardless of the appearance of the wound or its size, the individual should be evaluated immediately by a physician as a surgical emergency.

Eye Contact

• Flush thoroughly with water. If irritation occurs, get medical assistance.

Ingestion

• Seek immediate medical attention. Do not induce vomiting.

Safe Handling

• Avoid all personal contact.
• Do not siphon by mouth.
• Do not use as a cleaning solvent or other non-motor fuel uses.
• It is dangerous and/or unlawful to put fuel into unapproved containers.
• Static electricity may ignite vapors and cause fire.
• Place container on ground when filling and keep nozzle in contact with container.
• Do not use electronics while fueling.
• Prevent small spills and leakage to avoid slip hazard.
• Material can accumulate static charges which may cause an electrical spark (ignition source). 
• Use proper bonding and/or grounding procedures. Remember bonding and grounds may not eliminate the hazard from static accumulation.

Remember it is your job to report all incidents no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. Should you come into contact with diesel fuel and feel any type of reaction you should report to your supervisor or EHS representative immediately.