Page 34 - Ohio Propane News, Winter

CONSUMER Info
CONSUMER ALERT: WINTER HEATING WARNING ON PROPANE TANK REFILLING
With the increasing use of propane for various applications, in- cluding winter heating, safety during tank refilling has become a concern. The process of filling a propane tank involves precise measurements and strict adherence to safety codes to prevent dangerous situations.
“We often think about propane at the beginning of the grilling season, but propane can be used year-round,” State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon said. “The person refilling your tank should make sure it’s not damaged, corroded, dented or beyond qualifying re- quirements before refilling your tank and only fill it to the cor- rect specifications.”
The Division of State Fire Marshal’s Code Enforcement Bureau was recently alerted to potential safety issues at Dance Steel and Farm Supply in Southwest Ohio. There are concerns that over- filling occurred, a hazardous practice that can result in leaks, fires, or even explosions. Refilling LP Gas (Liquefied Petroleum Gas also known as propane) tanks can pose serious safety risks if not done correctly. This situation highlights the critical impor-
tance of stringent safety measures and proper training in han- dling propane tank refills.
Overfilling LP Gas tanks can lead to severe consequences. Fill- ing a tank more than 80% full can result in dangerous situations such as ruptures or leaks which can cause accidents, environ- mental hazards, and damage to property. A few signs of an over- filled tank:
• Overwhelming smell of propane gas, or mercaptan, which is added to the odorless propane.
• Vapor stream of liquid propane can come out of the tank. • The overfill prevention device is released.
• The sound of propane escaping the tank.
• The gauge on the tank is high after being filled.
• The State Fire Marshal created guidance for consumers on how to handle an overfilled tank and the next steps you need to take to safely address it. We’ve also included guidance on expired tanks.
TO READ THE FULL CONSUMER ALERT, PLEASE VISIT WWW.COM.OHIO. GOV/PROPANETANKS
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