COS/Advanced/TBT-COS-038

Fuel and Chemical Management

COSHH & Hazardous Substances › Advanced › Fuel and Chemical Management

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Fuel and chemicals are used daily on construction sites for plant, generators, cleaning, and specialist operations.
Common site fuels include diesel, petrol, and LPG; common chemicals include solvents, adhesives, oils, and degreasers.
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require risk assessments for all chemicals.
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 makes it an offence to cause pollution through poor storage or handling of fuels.
A single litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of drinking water if it enters a watercourse.
All fuel and chemicals must be stored in designated bunded areas capable of holding 110% of the largest container.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must be available on site for every chemical product before it is used.
Fuelling operations are a leading cause of spills on construction sites, particularly during plant refuelling.
The Oil Storage Regulations 2001 set specific requirements for containers, bunds, and secondary containment on sites.
Anyone handling fuels or chemicals must be trained in their safe use, storage, and emergency spill response procedures.

Environmental protection	Fuel and chemical spills can destroy watercourses, kill wildlife, and contaminate land for decades — clean-up costs are enormous.
Legal consequences	Causing a pollution incident can result in unlimited fines and criminal prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Worker health	Prolonged skin contact with fuels and solvents causes dermatitis, and inhaling fumes can damage lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Fire and explosion risk	Petrol vapour is heavier than air and can travel to ignition sources — improper storage creates serious fire and blast hazards.

Don't

Store all fuels and chemicals in designated bunded areas away from watercourses and drains.
Read the Safety Data Sheet before using any chemical product for the first time.
Use drip trays under all static plant, generators, and during refuelling operations.
Wear the correct PPE identified in the COSHH assessment for each substance handled.
Keep spill kits stocked and accessible near all fuel and chemical storage areas.
Label all containers clearly with the product name, hazard symbols, and date received.
Supervise fuel deliveries and check connections before the tanker driver begins pumping.
Report all spills immediately, no matter how small, and deploy spill kit materials.
Dispose of contaminated rags, absorbents, and empty containers as hazardous waste.
Lock fuel storage areas when not in use to prevent theft and unauthorised access.

DON'T store fuels or chemicals within 10 metres of any watercourse, drain, or borehole.
DON'T use a chemical without a COSHH assessment being completed and communicated first.
DON'T leave fuel containers open, unsecured, or on bare ground without secondary containment.
DON'T smoke or use mobile phones within the designated fuel storage exclusion zone.
DON'T overfill fuel tanks — stop filling when the tank reaches 95% capacity maximum.
DON'T decant fuel into unmarked or inappropriate containers such as water bottles or buckets.
DON'T wash fuel or chemical spills into drains, ditches, or onto open ground.
DON'T mix different chemicals together unless the SDS specifically confirms compatibility.
DON'T leave refuelling unattended — stay with the nozzle until the fill is complete.
DON'T ignore a damaged bund — if the bund is compromised, it offers no spill protection.

See also: Fuel and Oil Spill Prevention | Spill Kit Use and Deployment

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