December Plant Safety Meeting

Precautions for Propane Transfers and Odorants

When working with propane, safety is paramount. The risks and precautions that apply to basic operations, such as filling and transporting cylinders, also apply to other activities. The tips below serve as a reminder of what to be aware of and precautions to follow during all propane transfers.

SAFETY TIPS FOR ALL PROPANE TRANSFERS

Remove all ignition sources, ﬂammable liquids, and combustible materials to a safe distance away from the transfer area.
Observe all precautions that apply within the Static Discharge Control Area.
Always wear appropriate PPE.
Inspect hoses and ﬁttings before making connections. Correct any deﬁciencies and replace damaged components before proceeding.
Avoid dragging hoses across the ground when making connections.
Carry valves by the body. Carrying by the handwheel or operating lever can accidentally open the valve. Aim the valve outlet away from yourself and other people.
Know the locations and operating procedures for emergency shutoﬀ valves.
Know your plant’s emergency evacuation procedures, and check that gates are open to provide adequate egress locations in case of emergency.
Take special care when unloading into multiple storage tanks simultaneously. Refer to your plant’s procedures to determine which liquid and vapor valves should be open and closed, and how to monitor tank levels during the transfer.
Per DOT regulations, make sure a “qualiﬁed person” is present during every transfer operation. This person is someone who has been trained on safe work practices, health and safety hazards of propane, and emergency response procedures.
In the case of an equipment malfunction that cannot be ﬁxed easily, secure the component if it is safe to do so, and follow your company’s policies and procedures. In some cases, you may need to apply a lock and tag to protect people nearby and prevent any issue.

Odorants: Purpose, Characteristics, and Maintenance.

As a clean energy source, propane is naturally odorless. Thus, to ensure safety in handling propane, a commercial odorant is added. This odorant (most often, ethyl mercaptan) enables easy detection of any leaks or potential hazards that may be caused by them.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ODORANTS

They stink — Odorants have an unpleasant and distinctive odor to enable them to be
readily identiﬁable. This is often referred to as a “rotten egg” smell.
They are stable — Propane odorants are inert, so they do not decompose or react with propane or its distribution systems or appliances.
They are non-corrosive — Odorants are non-corrosive under conditions found in gas transmission, distribution, and utilization.
They are spotless — Odorants burn completely in the gas ﬂame to form products that
are not corrosive, irritating, or toxic.

Propane gas must be odorized prior to delivery to the bulk plant.

VERIFY ODORANTS AT EVERY DELIVERY AND TANK FILLING

Per NFPA 58, you should conduct and document a “sniﬀ test” during any delivery or ﬁlling of tanks. This will help determine that the propane is odorized. If the odor seems excessive, this test may indicate that there are leaks or issues at the customer site that need to be remedied.
If you suspect propane is not properly odorized, stop operations and notify your supervisor.

ADDING OR PRESERVING ODORANTS

With new containers, or ones that have been left open to the atmosphere, you must take precautions to maintain odorant integrity. Follow these practices to keep odorants from oxidizing and fading:

Purge air and moisture from the propane container.
Keep propane containers pressurized during shipping and installation at customer locations. Keep valves closed on units in storage to prevent air moisture from entering the container.

“Odorant fade” does not occur in containers that are in continuous use.

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