Fuel contamination Cancel The title field is required!

1. Steve Schommer

   

   5 posts
   
   12/2/2016 7:12 AM

   For the past two seasons, I have had seasonal employees put the wrong fuel in pieces of equipment at least 4 times each year. I have bought colored rubber handles for the fuel pumps (red for gas, green for diesel) and put red or green tape on each piece of equipment on the steering column or steering wheel to indicate what type of fuel goes into each piece. I've trained every operator on what fuel goes into each piece of equipment and told them I would be happy to help them figure out what type of fuel goes into the equipment if they are unsure. I've even painted most of the fuel caps red or green to match the fuel handles. Yet I still get the wrong fuel into the equipment. I'm going to write a list of gas equipment and diesel, laminate each and zip tie the list to the pumps so they can check against the list. Any other suggestions? This is killing my rating at review time!

   
   
   
   
2. Andrew Cross

   

   5 posts
   
   12/2/2016 7:12 AM

   Our parks department has the pumps that are activated when you insert a key. Each piece of equipment has its own fuel key and once inserted it only turns on the pump for the type of fuel that equipment takes. I will have to check with them to get the name of the system.

   
   
   
   
3. Roger Brink

   

   0 posts
   
   12/2/2016 5:12 PM

   Almost sounds like they're doing it on purpose.

   
   
   
   
4. Roland McPhearson

   

   9 posts
   
   12/3/2016 5:12 AM

   I came up with a solution to this problem. Fabricate a keyed lock for all diesel caps. The key(s) is then tethered to the diesel nozzle. The operators must have the diesel nozzle in their hand appx 1 foot from the cap (the length of the tether) to open the cap (with the key). This ensures no one can put gas in a diesel, which is the concern.
   
   For some machines a locking fuel cap is available. For others, I fabricated the locks which consisted of a bracket, pin, and padlock, all of which "hovered" over the cap and had to be removed to unscrew the cap. I did a couple machines to prove the concept but never finished the project. Finishing that project (the rest of the machines) would have required a fair amount of time and funds and would have resulting in some bellyaching from the childre... er I mean operators. At the time I was working for a super who wasn't interested in it so I dropped it. But I do think I proved the concept.
   
   The system Andrew described also sounds like a good option.

   
   
   
   
5. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   12/4/2016 8:12 AM

   Andrew Cross said: Our parks department has the pumps that are activated when you insert a key. Each piece of equipment has its own fuel key and once inserted it only turns on the pump for the type of fuel that equipment takes. I will have to check with them to get the name of the system.

   
   
   We use a similar program. It was pricey to start, but we have had no mix ups and only a few thefts which were easily caught the next day. We have FuelSheild. http://www.sciww.net

   
   
   
   
6. John Moore

   

   0 posts
   
   12/5/2016 5:12 AM

   Lock the diesel and gas storage tanks with a padlock and get extra keys for each tank. Attach the key that corresponds to the correct tank to the ignition key of the equipment.

   
   
   
   
7. Keith Pegg

   

   0 posts
   
   12/6/2016 5:12 PM

   Never had a problem with this myself, however for the most part I always had out mechanic staff do all fueling and oiling of equipment up to my last position in Japan and they were so responsible it was not needed. One position I had the mechanic would have to unlock the fuel only and that also worked well. I like the key idea sounds like that would work well.
   Best of luck
   
   Keith retired

   
   
   
   
8. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   12/7/2016 9:12 AM

   Only had a couple of issues over the past 17 years and in each case it was caught immediately. We instituted a buddy system. Nobody is allowed to fill up without having co-worker with them. We also have regular training with the guys, color coated the hose handles and the tanks also have clear designation. Since the buddy system went inot action, we have had no screw ups and it didn't cost us a penny.

   
   
   
   
9. Steve Schommer

   

   5 posts
   
   12/7/2016 8:12 PM

   Thanks for all the suggestions! I'll look into the system and consider the lock and key angle. This really gives me something to work with.

   
   
   
   
10. James Schmid

    

    1 posts
    
    12/9/2016 9:12 AM

    Sandy Clark, CGCS said: Only had a couple of issues over the past 17 years and in each case it was caught immediately. We instituted a buddy system. Nobody is allowed to fill up without having co-worker with them. We also have regular training with the guys, color coated the hose handles and the tanks also have clear designation. Since the buddy system went inot action, we have had no screw ups and it didn't cost us a penny.

    
    
    Regular training and a system that requires 2 employees to do the job of 1 doesn't cost anything?