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AIRCRAFT REFUELING 18 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE • APRIL 2014 the fuel servicing personnel training program. For further information refer to NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguish- ers which details all the requirements for fre extinguishers (type, size, location, maintenance, servicing, and use). • All fuel servicing equipment must be maintained in good working condition. The only way to tell that equipment is still in its proper usable condition is to provide regular inspection, testing and maintenance of the various system com- ponents. The most important component of the fuel system is the hose itself. This should be inspected daily. Inspection of the hose should be conducted by ex- tending it out to normal use length, and looking for any evidence of blistering, cuts or nicks. The couplings should be examined for slippage, misalignment or leaks. At least monthly, the hose is to be ex- tended for its full length and inspected for damage as previously stated. In ad- dition, the nozzle screens should be ex- amined for pieces of rubber which is an indication of interior deterioration. The hose should then be tested at working pressure, any twisting or ballooning in- dicates weakness. If any of these issues are noticed the hose should be taken out of service. Fuel servicing carts and vehicles should be neat and clean. Grease, oil and other combustibles shall not be present on the vehicle. If any leaks are spotted, the vehicle should be taken out of service, until repairs can be made. A minimum of 10 feet between parked vehicles shall be maintained to allow for fre protection and control purposes. The effects of a fre incident, no matter the size, can be far reaching. Fire effects organizations in fve ways: Economically, a fre can result in loss of jobs or loss of contracts. Organization- ally, a fre contributes added cost to the business operations. Legally, civil liti- gation and lost time can ensue. Psycho- logically, employees and customers are subjected to a traumatic experience. Politically, the company can lose com- munity support. By following these guidelines laid out in NFPA 407, Standard for Aircraft Fuel Servicing, loss from fre can be prevented, and life safety of employees and customers maintained. This brief overview should give you a good place to start to ensure that your facility is on the path to full compliance and a safe operation. Utilize the oper- ations safety self-evaluation to deter- mine your areas of strength, weakness, and greatest need. All referenced codes and standards are available for free, as read-only, from http://www.nfpa.org/ codes-and-standards/document-infor- mation-pages See how EMS is innovating refueling at www.rampmasters.com/EMS. An Independent Study by WVU's Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions has confrmed that EMS DRIVES 78 DIESEL FUEL The Data is In. Rampmaster's Engine Management System (EMS) Delivers Unparalleled Savings for Every Gallon of Jet Fuel Pumped UP TO SAVINGS AviationPros.com/company/10017697 About the author: Aaron Johnson has been in the fre protection and life safety industry for nearly 10 years. He began his career as a frefghter, then transitioned to fre prevention. He currently serves as fre marshal for a Fortune 100 aircraft manufacturing corporation. He also blogs about fre protection and life safety issues at www.TheCodeCoach.com. By following the guidelines laid out in NFPA 407, loss from fre can be prevented, and life safety of employees and customers maintained. gsm_14-18_AircraftRefueling_V4.indd 18 4/10/14 3:08 PM