Someone has pointed out to me this article, and I thought that was interesting.
Have you, fuel tanker drivers, thought of consequences of working with fuels and other chemicals?
I bet there is some nasty stuff added to it and I guess you all inhale a lot of it every day when loading and tipping your load.
Do you have any protective equipment issued that you need to use every day at work, maybe some face masks?
Are there many of your fellow fuel tanker drivers, other ADR drivers that get to live to the old age, or do they mostly die of some nasty illnesses related to the work they had been doing prior to dying?
It’s not if you do your job correctly!
Many years ago Shell would try and monitor the amount of Benzine you were being exposed to. They supplied the driver with a badge like contraption you had to wear on your lapel. This monitored the level of benzine during your working day.
Never heard any results so either it was good news and the level of exposure was so low it didn’t matter or it was so high and they didn’t want to admit to anything dodgy.
Haven’t heard of any common illness due to long term exposure.
The biggest danger is Fire.
I’ve been told a empty tanker is more dangerous than a full tanker 
that cannae be true?
merc0447:
I’ve been told a empty tanker is more dangerous than a full tanker
When you have delivered all of the fuel you are left with a Tanker full of Vapour.
This is what would burn in a fire.
So you are just as dangerous when you are empty.
The liquid petrol will burn…the vapour will, at the right concentration in the atmosphere, explode!
I could be wrong, but I thought petrol tankers now had vapour recovery systems, so the benzine etc didn’t vent to the atmosphere. Can a tanker driver enlighten us?
I was always taught that engine oil is a carcinogen and contact with skin/inhaling fumes should be avoided. Since petrol/diesel/aviation fuel is a refined version of oil, surely it makes sense to assume it has similar risks associated with it.
Captain Caveman 76:
I was always taught that engine oil is a carcinogen and contact with skin/inhaling fumes should be avoided. Since petrol/diesel/aviation fuel is a refined version of oil, surely it makes sense to assume it has similar risks associated with it.
Used engine oil much more so than fresh (ex car mechanic among many other things), but it’s sensible to assume some greater or lesser risk with any liquid other than water, and any fumes of any sort.
fodentanker:
merc0447:
I’ve been told a empty tanker is more dangerous than a full tankerWhen you have delivered all of the fuel you are left with a Tanker full of Vapour.
This is what would burn in a fire.
So you are just as dangerous when you are empty.
So what do they do with all the vapour that they have recovered from the petrol stations? they must collect a lot now, since they stopped venting it into the atmosphere.
Of course it is did you not see the Stobby episode about their tanker driver, apparently it was a ‘Mobile bomb’ that he drives, or some b/s like that 
I have read somewhere that mechanics have to be careful with ensuring good hand hygiene if they go to the toilet, as they are getting engine oil on their old boys. 
Wasn’t escaping vapours and sparking from a tanker the cause of the Buncefield blast?
GasGas:
The liquid petrol will burn…the vapour will, at the right concentration in the atmosphere, explode!I could be wrong, but I thought petrol tankers now had vapour recovery systems, so the benzine etc didn’t vent to the atmosphere. Can a tanker driver enlighten us?
I heard that the petrol vapour is recovered but the diesel vapours vent straight out, I’ve seen some drivers tip diesel with no vapour recovery connected.
robroy:
apparently it was a ‘Mobile bomb’ that he drives, or some b/s like that
Thats because it’s probably not bs:lol:
weeto:
So what do they do with all the vapour that they have recovered from the petrol stations?
Might be carried back to the refinery then it’s recovered again when they reload, possibly condenses back into product…
Pimpdaddy:
GasGas:
The liquid petrol will burn…the vapour will, at the right concentration in the atmosphere, explode!I could be wrong, but I thought petrol tankers now had vapour recovery systems, so the benzine etc didn’t vent to the atmosphere. Can a tanker driver enlighten us?
I heard that the petrol vapour is recovered but the diesel vapours vent straight out, I’ve seen some drivers tip diesel with no vapour recovery connected.
robroy:
apparently it was a ‘Mobile bomb’ that he drives, or some b/s like thatThats because it’s probably not bs:lol:
You are both correct.
Tankers do have Vapour Recovery Systems and those vapours are squeezed out of the storage tank through a Vapour Hose back into the Tanker. Then when you load the same process takes place in reverse and the vapour returns to the refinery/ storage tank where they re-use any fuel they recover from it.
As for Diesel venting to the atmosphere that is also correct. However Shell require you to use a Vapour Hose even if you are only delivering Diesel.
However,
If you visit Cobham Services on the M25 you will see a separate Tanker Delivery area and 2 fill points. 1 has both Diesel and Petrol including a vapour recovery system the other is Diesel only and doesn’t have a Vapour system.
As for the Benzine check that was a long time ago, top loading for example, you no longer see any of the Fuel you deliver as everything is sealed. No ladders to access the top of the tank to take the dips etc just computers showing how much you have loaded and delivered.
bazza123:
I have read somewhere that mechanics have to be careful with ensuring good hand hygiene if they go to the toilet, as they are getting engine oil on their old boys.Wasn’t escaping vapours and sparking from a tanker the cause of the Buncefield blast?
Used engine oil is carcinogenic…new engine oil (especially in these days of synthetics etc) rather less so.
so, when you load fuel at the refinery, are you exposed to any fuel, chemicals, vapor, or if you try you can avoid any exposure?
and the same question for when you unload at customer’s premises?
fodentanker:
Pimpdaddy:
GasGas:
The liquid petrol will burn…the vapour will, at the right concentration in the atmosphere, explode!I could be wrong, but I thought petrol tankers now had vapour recovery systems, so the benzine etc didn’t vent to the atmosphere. Can a tanker driver enlighten us?
I heard that the petrol vapour is recovered but the diesel vapours vent straight out, I’ve seen some drivers tip diesel with no vapour recovery connected.
robroy:
apparently it was a ‘Mobile bomb’ that he drives, or some b/s like thatThats because it’s probably not bs:lol:
You are both correct.
Tankers do have Vapour Recovery Systems and those vapours are squeezed out of the storage tank through a Vapour Hose back into the Tanker. Then when you load the same process takes place in reverse and the vapour returns to the refinery/ storage tank where they re-use any fuel they recover from it.As for Diesel venting to the atmosphere that is also correct. However Shell require you to use a Vapour Hose even if you are only delivering Diesel.
However,
If you visit Cobham Services on the M25 you will see a separate Tanker Delivery area and 2 fill points. 1 has both Diesel and Petrol including a vapour recovery system the other is Diesel only and doesn’t have a Vapour system. also bothwell services m74 southbound.As for the Benzine check that was a long time ago, top loading for example, you no longer see any of the Fuel you deliver as everything is sealed. No ladders to access the top of the tank to take the dips etc just computers showing how much you have loaded and delivered.
merc0447:
I’ve been told a empty tanker is more dangerous than a full tanker
when I took my hazchem in tankers[petrol]I was told just that, its to do with vapours given off from the load and circulating the delivery point after delivery
I pick up about 30k litres of waste oil a week. I get covered in the stuff daily…
I’m probably screwed. My backs already gone, I’ve had major spinal surgery and I’m only 30.
What I want to know is whats a tanker load of ‘UN1170’ used for, where they are taking it & if it’s handled any differently to unleaded…!? #dieseldave
Pimpdaddy:
What I want to know is whats a tanker load of ‘UN1170’ used for, where they are taking it & if it’s handled any differently to unleaded…!? #dieseldave
It’s ethanol I think, so is probably worse than petrol.
Has many uses for many different things.