February 15, 2008, Newsletter Issue #30: Handling Gasoline The Safe Way: A Junk Yard Dealer's Guide

Tip of the Week

As a junk yard dealer, it goes without saying that you’re going to handle gasoline. Every step of the way requires safe handling practices, including disposal. Gasoline is highly volatile and extremely flammable, and it needs to be handled with care. Years down the road, when new hybrid vehicles are mainstream, the issue of gasoline disposal may be moot. In the meantime, there are some key things you need to understand in order to make gasoline a safe and environmentally friendly process. According to Chevron.com, the first thing you should do (and this goes for any chemicals inherent in the junk yard business) is to obtain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) by doing an Internet search for “Worldwide MSDS.” When handling gasoline in the junk yard, make sure to cover your nose and mouth to avoid inhaling the vapors. Be careful not to get any gasoline on your skin, and use only approved containers (one to five gallons, metal or UL approved plastic, red in color with vapor-tight cap). Never store gasoline in glass or unapproved containers.

For more guidelines on proper handling and disposal of fuel for junkyard operators, contact the American Petroleum Institute or the Petroleum Equipment Institute.

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