SPILL PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND COUNTERMEASURE PLAN
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON – CLEAR LAKE
Oil Loading and Unloading Procedures:
Bulk Delivery Procedures
Precautions are taken to ensure both personnel safety and prevention of spills or accidental
releases during routine handling of oil. Visual checks for leaks before, during, and after material
transfers provide operating personnel with the opportunity to contain releases due to faulty
equipment, and to implement proper repair measures. UHCL employs delivery procedures
designed to prevent accidental spills and releases during the bulk transfer of oils and other
materials. Bulk oil is delivered using the following procedures:
Loading and unloading is only performed under the supervision of campus personnel
responsible for ensuring that proper procedures are followed.
Oil absorbent and containment materials must be available and sufficient to prevent
spills from reaching navigable waters.
Wheel chocks or a vehicle break interlock system must be employed to prevent vehicles
from departing before complete disconnection of flexible or fixed oil transfer lines or
hoses.
Bonding and grounding devices must be connected before loading or unloading
flammable oils from vehicle.
Campus personnel and pump operator/driver must check all connections for tightness
and that all fittings and hoses are in a safe and operable condition before beginning any
pumping of oil.
Where connections are not located within a secondary containment structure, a drip pan
must be placed below the connection during the filling process.
The operator of the pump shall not leave the pumping process unmanned for any reason
during the filling process and shall remain within close proximity (five feet) of the shutoff
valve at all times.
When a high level alarm is not operational or available on the container being filled, an
employee must gauge the container during filling operations and be in constant
communication with the pump operator.
After pumping is complete, the pump operator must check that all shutoff valves are
locked in the closed position and there is no leakage.
Prior to filling and departure of any tank car or tank truck, the lowermost drain and all
outlets of such vehicles must be closely inspected for discharges, and if necessary,
ensure that they are tightened, adjusted, or replaced to prevent liquid discharge.
Connections of oil tank or campus piping must be securely capped, plugged, or sealed
when not in service or when in standby service for an extended time.
Bulk Oil Collection/Pickup
Used petroleum oils generated during maintenance activities transferred by UHCL personnel via
5-gallon pails are placed directly into the FMC used oil storage tank. Collected used oil is
periodically picked up via trucks that park adjacent the used oil tank. In general, the operator
collects the used oils using a hand-held nozzle and flexible tubing from a vacuum tanker
connected directly to the truck.
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UH-CL SPCC PLAN 4-8-2014-EDITS 4-10
SPILL PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND COUNTERMEASURE PLAN
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON – CLEAR LAKE
Container Loading/Unloading Procedures
Portable containers (drums, totes) of oils and oil-based products are generally delivered at the
Facilities, Maintenance, and Construction (FMC) Building and the loading area of the Bayou
Building. The drums are then taken directly to the point of use by hand cart or fork lift. Delivery
to the FMC is through an overhead door leading to the drum storage area. These temporary
staging locations are strategically located that in the event of a release during staging, release
response equipment would be employed, and the release would be contained as close to the
source as possible. Portable containers are loaded and unloaded using the following
procedures:
All containers must be closed and sealed prior to moving.
No obstacles should block the unloading area or delivery paths.
Safe lifting techniques must be used.
Loads must not be stacked on the transport mechanism or vehicle in a manner that
blocks the operator’s vision.
Heavy objects should be loaded at the bottom of a forklift, hand truck, or pallet jack.
Bulky or awkward items should be secured while in transport.
Only trained and authorized personnel are allowed to operate a forklift or use other
powered material-handling equipment.
Containerized materials are stacked and stored properly in a stable and secure manner.
Elevator Hydraulic Oil Tanks
Oil is rarely added to or removed from these small tanks. When required, addition of oil is
performed manually using small containers by qualified, contracted elevator service technicians.
Removal of oil would only be required in the event of tank repair or replacement. In this event,
oil would be manually removed from the tank by portable pumps and placed in containers.
Electrical Transformers
Typically oil is neither added to nor removed from transformers except in the event of repairs.
Addition or removal of oil from transformers is only performed by trained and qualified
electricians.
Oil Equipment Design:
Bulk Storage Oil Tanks
All bulk oil storage containers are constructed of materials compatible with petroleum products
at the conditions of storage. Visual observations of bulk storage oil tanks are made routinely
during normal work operations at UHCL. The construction materials of the aboveground
portions of the tanks are examined at least quarterly to detect corrosion or erosion and leaking
of fixtures and seams. The area immediately surrounding the tank is patrolled at least quarterly
to detect obvious signs of leakage.
Portable or Mobile Oil Containers
All portable or mobile oil containers are constructed of materials compatible with petroleum
products at the conditions of storage. In areas where containers of oil, such as drums, are used
routinely, there are designated oil container storage locations. Inspections and visual
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UH-CL SPCC PLAN 4-8-2014-EDITS 4-10
