The Pain In Propane: How To Avoid It, And How To Treat It
Propane is used to heat homes. As it burns, it produces very clean burning energy. It is also very efficient at making your home or business warm. However, if you ever have an encounter with propane outside of the standard use, you should know that this chemical agent burns, and not just fire burns, but "cold burns." That is because propane is a frozen chemical variant of natural gas, pumped into usage tanks under frigid pressure. It shares some properties with dry ice in that respect. As for you and your own fuel delivery service employees, you should know how to avoid these unusual burns and how to treat them when something goes amiss handling propane.
All Employees Should Wear the Proper Gloves and Protective Wear When Delivering Propane
Fuel delivery employees who deliver propane into the holding tanks of customers need to wear their OSHA-recommended PPE (personal protective equipment). This includes insulated rubber gloves that go up to the elbows, a hazardous chemicals apron, and splash-proof protective goggles or face mask. In most cases, the only things they have to do is take their hoses from their pumper trucks and connect them to the ports on the customers' propane tanks, and turn two valves to get distribution of propane from the truck to the tanks. However, a lot of things can go wrong in such a simple transmission, and that is where the PPE comes in to protect and avoid such accidents.
All Pumper Trucks Should Have Fully Functional Sealing Valves
Even a drip-drop of propane can cause harm and exquisite pain. If the valves on the delivery trucks are tight, and not a drop can get out, there is no chance that you or your employees can get burned by the propane. Be sure to examine the valves on your trucks often to check for signs of leaking or leaky valves.
If Someone Does Get Burned...
The treatment for a propane burn is the same as it is for frostbite. The burn victim (in this case, yourself or an employee) has to place the burned skin into a tepid pool of water to avoid causing more damage to the tissues and skin in the burned area. A very light bandage that is moistened by the tepid water is the best you can do until the victim either makes it to the hospital or until the EMTs arrive and treat the burn.
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