This section covers the proper techniques to safety storage and handling for lubricants, this section also emphasizes accepted practices for inspectin
SAFETY, STORAGE AND HANDLING
This section covers the proper techniques for storing and handling lubricants. The section also emphasizes accepted practices for inspecting and using lubricants. The section pays particular attention to fire and accident prevention. Lubricants and the equipment they are supposed to protect are very expensive. Production downtime because of equipment failure must also be kept to a minimum. Lubricants must be stored and handled properly to prevent accidents.
Protection.
Lubricants are useful only if their properties remain constant and if the lubricants do not become contaminated by other materials. Lubricants must be stored in such a way that they do not become contaminated and so that they do not contaminate other materials or their surroundings. Particular attention must be paid when lubricants are stored outdoors. Lubricants can be easily overheated or frozen unless care is taken to keep them sheltered from the weather.
If bulk lubricants are stored outdoors, they must be kept only in approved container on approved storage racks. Racks are designed to keep the lubricant drums on their side instead of upright. This keeps the top of an opened container from being exposed to rain or other bad weather. The racks also keep the drums from falling or rolling.
If a drum is stored upright outside, water that comes in contact with the top could collect and remain there. Eventually, this water will corrode the drum and find its way into the lubricant. Storing a drum on its side also keeps dirt from collecting on the top and lessens the chance that the dirt could fall inside when the drum is opened. The lubricant storage racks should be protected by some type of roof or overhang.
Lubricants stored inside can also be subjected to contamination and should be stored with the same concerns. In addition, the danger of fire is greater and precautions should be taken. Where possible, the lubricants should be stored in a separate room with adequate fire extinguishing facilities and fire doors.
Precautions also need to be taken to insure that the lubricants do not contaminate other materials or the environment. Leaks must be repaired as quickly as possible, spills must be cleaned up immediately, and used lubricants must be disposed of only in approved containers.
Availability
Lubricants need to be readily available for use. This sometimes means moving one or more drums from the bulk storage area into some location near where they will be used. If a drum is moved indoors, it should be allowed to reach the same temperature as the indoor location before it is opened. That will reduce the chance for contamination and explosion as the pressure in the drum changes with temperature.
Also, a lubricant that has been stored in cold weather may be too thick to use until it has had a chance to warm up. Once the container is opened to remove some lubricant, extra care must be taken to prevent contamination of the inside of the drum and to prevent spills.
When lubricant is needed for a piece of equipment, it’s usually removed from the storage drum and placed in another container. Be sure to use approved safe procedures for drawing off the lubricant and placing it in another safety approved container. There are several ways of removing lubricant from a drum.
A barrel pump is one of the best ways of removing lubricant without contaminating the rest of the contents of the drum. There are different pumps for grease and oil because of the different consistencies. Care must be taken to clean off the drum before the pump is inserted and to open the drum vent before drawing off the lubricant.
Another method of removing lubricant is to use a spigot on the drum and store the drum on a rocking frame. This makes it easy to turn the drum on its side to pour off some lubricant.
Unused lubricant should never be returned to a storage drum. It could contaminate the entire drum. Some lubricants must be used completely once the storage container has been opened. That’s because continued exposure to the air will make the lubricant lose its effectiveness. In any case, bung seals should not be removed until the material is needed.
Many lubricants should not be mixed because of their composition or additives. The label on the container must be carefully checked before the lubricant is removed.
Recommended Inspections.
Care must be taken to insure that the correct type and amount of lubricant is added at the right time. Many failures can be prevented just by following that rule. Make sure to read carefully all labels and directions. Don’t guess! Whenever there’s a question about what type and how much to use, check the specifications in the manufacturer’s equipment manual.
Oil levels. Wherever possible, check to see that oil levels are neither too high nor too low.
Bearings. Be on the lookout for hot and noisy bearings. This could be a sign that they are not properly lubricated.
Discoloration. Watch for discoloration of oil. This could be a sign of severe oxidation. Also, a milky appearance is generally a sign of water contamination. Look for other signs of contamination, such as foam or strange odors.
Leaks. Watch for leaks around the operating equipment. Lubricant leaking out could be a sign of equipment failure as well as a leaking seal. Lubricant leaking out is wasted and increases operating expenses. Leaks can also present a safety hazard by causing a slippery surface. Watch out for any other unusual conditions that could indicate that there’s a lubrication problem. Timely recognition of a potential problem can prevent equipment breakdown.
Fire and Accident Prevention.
Almost all lubricants are flammable under the right conditions. Extra care must be taken to prevent fire hazards. This is one of the reasons why lubricants are usually stored outdoors - to keep them away from buildings and other materials.
Whenever lubricants must be kept indoors, the same warning signs are used. Approved fire extinguishers of the proper type should also be nearby and in good working order.
Lubricants should be stored well away from other chemicals. Even though the materials don’t come in direct contact with one another, vapors from each could mingle to form a highly explosive or toxic mixture. Keeping the lubricants apart from other chemicals also reduces the chance of contamination.
Have approved safety equipment. That means not only fire extinguishing equipment but also showers and eye washing equipment wherever corrosive materials are handled. Safety glasses and proper protective clothing should be worn in hazardous areas.
Wipe up all spills immediately. Lubricants left on the ground or on the floor become harder to
clean up with time. Any spilled lubricant becomes a double safety hazard. The lubricant and its vapors are fire hazards. Because the purpose of a lubricant is to make surfaces slippery, spills present an extremely hazardous place to stand or walk. Spilled lubricant could also contaminate other materials as well as the environment.
Disposal.
Most states have strict regulations regarding the disposal of lubricants and other hazardous materials. Good operating practices also dictate care in disposing of lubricants. The two most important concerns deal with fire and contamination of the environment. All used lubricants must either be disposed or stored properly for recycling. In any case, they must be handled carefully to prevent them from coming into contact with other materials.
Use only appoved containers for the disposal of used lubricant. Be sure it’s properly marked and stored well away from new lubricant so there’s no chance of mixing it up. Make sure the container has no leaks and is well sealed.
Never dump lubricant on the ground or into sewers. This creates all the hazards discussed above, and the company is liable.
If lubricants are recyclable, the recommended procedures for purifying must be used. The oil should be analyzed to be sure it’s acceptable within the prescribed limits before it’s put back into use.
- [accordion]
- 1. Best Practices for Lubricant Storage and Handling
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- 2. Best Practices in Storage and Handling of Lubricants
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- 3. NFPA 30-21 Flamable and Combustible Liquids Code
- 4. Lubrication Fundamentals
- 5. Best Practices in Bulk Lubricant Storage and Handling
- 6. Storage and Handling of Lubricans
- 7. API RP 1525 1997 Bulk Oil Testing, Handling, and Storage Guidelines
- 1. Best Practices for Lubricant Storage and Handling
- 2. Best Practices in Storage and Handling of Lubricants
- 3. NFPA 30-21 Flamable and Combustible Liquids Code
- 4. Lubrication Fundamentals
- 5. Best Practices in Bulk Lubricant Storage and Handling
- 6. Storage and Handling of Lubricans
- 7. API RP 1525 1997 Bulk Oil Testing, Handling, and Storage Guidelines
