An explosion in a fuel tanker killed a worker loading the truck. The cause of the explosion was a static spark generated by the pumping of a thick oil product into the tanker. The spark ignited gasoline vapors left from a previous load in the tanker. The tanker had been flushed, which removed the liquid gasoline and sludge but not the vapors. Flushing would also have failed to remove any liquid gasoline in the air space between the compartments. These compartments are supposed to be freely draining, but three had been capped, probably because of leakage. If you are working around a confined […]