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Posted By lewes
We have a oil storage tank that we are soon to have dismantled by specialist contractors. They are soon to provide RA's.
What should I be looking for as a safe system of work ??
I have used the search facility and there is a useful thread on there but was generally looking for any other advise
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Posted By Jerry Lucey
The main risk that springs to mind would be that of fire or explosions due to residues of oil or vapours remining within the tanks being ignited by sparks from cutting equipment.
I would look for a method statement detailing risks identified and proposed methods for carrying out the work to avoid these risks.
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Posted By steven bentham
(1) drainage without polluting envirnoment
AND
(2) insist on cold cutting (no abrasive disc or hot cutting)
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Posted By Martyn Hendrie
If they have contained leaded petrol then there are quite onerous requirements to prevent contact/exposure to the lead solvent that may have permiated the tanks and you would have to try and avoid cutting up on site if possible.
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Posted By Derran Willliams
What the size of the tank?
What was the previous contents?
Is it above or below ground?
Is it in a confined space such as a building?
Have the fuel lines been drain back and tank bottoms uplifted?
Question should be asking them is;
What type of work have then done before?
Are they using drip trays before cracking pipework?
How will the purge the fuel lines?
How are the lines to be left, capped off?
I would remove the tank as a whole if possible, cold cutting has its own problems, believe me I have been involved in removing storage tanks including petrol tanks for 10 years, the exposure to noise and vibration is extremely excessive and should not be used for long periods. We have cold cutters and according to current levels 2.5m/s we can use it for approx 13mins in an 8 hour period, and if cold cutting in a confined space the noise is deafening. If it a large tank look at the used of a tracked excavator and shear attachment to cut it up, and don’t forget all liquid waste should be removed to comply with hazardous Waste (England & Wales )Regulation 2005 with a waste premises code for the person producing the waste.
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Posted By Nicholas Ross-Clunis
The problem always is how to get the tank to be gas free - non explosive atmosphere. Different methods can be applied depending on the quality of the product in the tank - heavy fuel oil, light fuel oil, gas oil, gaolines leaded etc.
The contractors or you will have to:
1. Drain the tank of its contents - care of the environment - where do you drain to?
2. Gas free
3. Positively isolate
4. Maintain oxygen content should people have to enter to erect scaffolding - depends on the construction of the tank
Once gas free and positively isolated there is no problem with hot work.
If bottom plates are to be cut make sure that there has been no leakage as this would mean an explosive atmosphere between the bottom plates and the ground below.
Without actually knowing the product it has contained or the size and type of tank only such generalities can be stated.
Hope this is a little helpful,
Nicholas Ross-Clunis
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Posted By lewes
Thanks for everyone's help.
It went well in the end despite the sub-contractors trying to pull a fast one and wanting to go in without breathing aparatus and that fact they werent going to clean it correctly either.
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