Safeguards: A key process safety tool in jet fuel management from refinery to aircraft wings

Abstract

Emphasis on aviation safety and the drive for an industry safety revolution sadly came as an aftermath of several aircraft accidents and fatalities. In Nigeria alone, 112 aircraft crashes were recorded from 1939 to 2015. Safety concerns in the Nigerian aviation sector reached a peak in 1996 when within 2 years; seven air crashes with hundreds in fatalities, were recorded. This led to several industry reviews, regulations and operational status appraisal resulting in the closure and abandonment of the only 94 km hydrant jet fuel pipeline from Atlas Cove via Mosimi to Lagos Airport, by the Government in 1996 to this day. This paper critically examines the improvements in practice, and the jet fuel safety and quality management systems currently in place as at 2017, for the handling of jet fuel toward ensuring on‐spec jet A‐1 fuel with a focus on Lagos aviation fuel operations. The findings show that different forms of safeguards have been deployed along the jet fuel value chain to maintain product quality and ensure flight safety, but there are rising concerns that the industry may relapse on safety due to the current economic recession. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 37: 518–524, 2018

Conventional and Alternative Aviation Fuels: Occupational Exposure and Health Effects

“…2,12,14,43 Contamination with other fuel grades/products, pipeline residue, tank residue, and decomposition byproducts produce extremely toxic chemicals (i.e., hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide) and create additional risks, which may not be immediately anticipated. 44,45 The risk of exposure to aviation fuels is greatest during refuelling operations; during the pressurized transfer of fuel from a vehicle to the receiving aircraft, there is a high-flow movement within the system. 46 Incidental ingestion, inhalation, and contact are also possible when minor spills occur due to the failure to depressurize fuel lines before opening or depressurizing them rapidly when replacing fuel filters and working in confined spaces (i.e., fuel tanks) as well as during tanker truck loading/unloading and spill cleanup.…”

“…Coupling connections between the fuel nozzle and the aircraft inlet are used to ensure a better sealing, 93 and a specialized bottom loading valve is used to transfer aviation fuel to browsers in a contained and closed space. 44 Also, when the fuelling handle is not engaged, a deadman switch shuts down the fuel supply to compensate for possible inattention of the worker. Moreover, the refuelling vehicles are attached to ground fuel tanks, and through a combination of interlocking pressurized hoses, the fuel is led into aircraft tanks; this firmly controlled flow reduces the employees' contact with fuel and minimizes leakages and subsequent vapor release into the atmosphere.…”

“…18,98 Various administrative controls should be used in conjunction with, and as part of, risk management although the effectiveness of such restrictions may vary depending on workers' interpretation and enactment of the instructions. 44 For example, the increase of public concern calls for an inquiry and a prospective legal class action due to increased fuel exposure of Australian Defense Force personnel with anecdotes of inappropriate or no PPE being worn and workplace cultures that disregard existing controls allegedly contributing to these cases. 99 Additional measures mentioned for JP-8 include the washing of exposed skin with soapy water and flushing exposed eye tissue liberally with water.…”

“…The risks of exposure to aviation fuel can vary due to the diversity of occupationally exposed populations, and fuel is present at many stages in a long and complex chain of processes. It has been indicated that the exposure to these types of substances could be chronic or acute due to inhalation and dermal contact during worker activities such as transportation, storage, the supply of fuel to the aircraft, and maintenance, among other activities. , Moreover, occupational exposure may involve dermal exposures resulting from contaminated clothing/gloves, respiratory exposure to fuel/exhaust vapors, and incidental oral exposure to contaminated food/water where remnants from refuelling may be present on hands while eating and drinking. ,,, Contamination with other fuel grades/products, pipeline residue, tank residue, and decomposition byproducts produce extremely toxic chemicals (i.e., hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide) and create additional risks, which may not be immediately anticipated. , …”

“…Pressure refuelling is a semiautomated process where, if no technical problem occurs, the risk of an overflow of fuel out of the tank vents and subsequent fuel spills are minimized and at times eliminated. Coupling connections between the fuel nozzle and the aircraft inlet are used to ensure a better sealing, and a specialized bottom loading valve is used to transfer aviation fuel to browsers in a contained and closed space . Also, when the fuelling handle is not engaged, a deadman switch shuts down the fuel supply to compensate for possible inattention of the worker.…”