Avoid Getting Spooked During Your Inspections
Written by: Brian Pottebaum, Director of Training Services
Halloween is here, so watch out for all the little ghosts and goblins strolling about on their quest for sweet treats and a good scare!
It’s also time to prepare your UST system for the upcoming winter season. You should be inspecting all the accessible components early enough that you can still make necessary repairs before the deep freeze. This includes looking inside dispenser cabinets and under driveway lids. Make sure all containment areas are clean and in good condition, in addition checking for leaks and damaged equipment that need to be repaired. Don’t forget that any petroleum release to the environment must be reported to the regulators and your insurance company [PMMIC] as soon as possible and within 24 hours of discovery.
When checking in these unfrequented areas, beware of the other creatures and critters that are also preparing for winter. It is not uncommon to find insects and spiders setting up residency inside the dispenser cabinets and in manways over the fuel tanks. These areas provide shelter and enough warmth to get them through the winter. Because of this, you will need to remove a few cobwebs to see everything that you need to see. If you are lucky, you might even get to chase a mouse or snake out to complete the inspection. If you live far enough south, you may even encounter a scorpion! That always gives a good scare when you’re not expecting it.
Inspection Checklist:
- [Outside Dispenser] Hanging hardware inspected for damage and leaks.
- Hose
- Breakaway
- Swivel
- Nozzle
- [Inside Dispenser] Cabinet inspected for damage and leaks.
- No leaks at meter, pump (suction only), pipe fittings, fuel filter, and other components.
- Under dispenser containment cleaned and inspected for damage.
- Liquid sensor (if present) is standing vertical and at the bottom of containment.
- Impact/shear valves are anchored and nothing prying the valve open (pressurized systems only).
- Spill buckets cleaned and inspected for damage.
- Covers and lids are secured and in good shape (not split/cracked).
- Drain valve is clean and not damaged (if present)
- Fill pipe cap seals properly.
- Fill pipe is free of tank sticks and foreign objects.
- Tank top sumps inspected for damage and leaks.
- Covers and lids are secured and in good shape (not split/cracked).
- Piping sumps are cleaned and inspected for damage.
- Submersible pump and piping in good shape and not leaking (pressurized system only)