Flammable liquids—such as diesel, gasoline, or oil—are used in many industries. The regulatory oversight of these materials is multifaceted and complex. To protect personnel and avoid fines resulting from citations, facilities that frequently employ flammable liquids in their operations should be aware of the standards for proper storage, use, and transportation of these substances.

One component of the proper use of flammable liquids is safety cans. A safety can—as defined by 1910.106(a)(29)—refers to a container with no more than a 5-gallon capacity that features a spring-closing lid and a spout cover to prevent ignition. Not only will these specially designed containers enable your facility to achieve regulatory compliance, but they will also protect assets and staff from potential harm.

To help you find the flammable liquid storage options that are right for your facility, here is a look at the most common flammable liquid violations regarding safety cans and the products that can help you achieve compliance.

The Most Common Flammable Liquids Violations

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a report in 2019 that documented the most common citations issued that year. For statute 29 CFR 1910.106, which details the regulations for flammable liquid storage and usage, OSHA reported that one of the most common violations for flammable liquids in 2019 was related to subpart 106(e)(6)(i) of the 29 CFR 1910.106 regulations. 

106(e)(6)(i) stipulates that facilities must take “adequate precautions” to prevent the ignition of flammable vapors. The ignition sources outlined by this regulation include sources such as smoking, welding, and open flames. 

Subpart 1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(b) is related to subpart 106(e)(6)(i) in that it requires flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 degrees to be stored in a covered container when not in use. In addition to improper containers, another common violation identified in the report was dispensing liquids that aren’t properly bonded or grounded. 

In light of these two statutes, it can be reasonably concluded that one of the most common violations that facilities are being cited for when it comes to the improper storage of flammable liquids is the failure to store these substances in an appropriately sealed container or containers that cannot properly dispense liquids. 

Using Safety Cans to Avoid Citations

Using proper safety cans to store flammable liquids will enable facilities to avoid non-compliance citations. Justrite offers a range of safety cans that are specifically designed to comply with OSHA and NFPA requirements.

In order to avoid non-compliance citations, it is important to store hazardous chemicals in the proper containers. Type I and Type II safety cans from Justrite are manufactured to satisfy regulations. 

Type I safety cans and Type II safety cans feature self-closing lids and a leak-proof construction that will prevent contents from being inadvertently exposed to ignition sources. Justrite has an extensive selection of products designed to satisfy OSHA storage regulations, take a look at our safety can inventory and find the product that is right for you.

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