Gardner Marsh News

I have worked with many different personalities over the years and I have concluded there are two very different schools of thought into which most everyone falls. One is that the way we have always done it is the only way it is supposed to be done. 

The other embraces, supports, and encourages change and adaptation. I fall more into the latter, but I fully respect and accept that there is usually nothing wrong with the way things have been done in the past. However, I believe that, as an industry, we didn’t keep up with trends and technology for a while. From what I see now though, we are catching up and looking for ways to adapt. Before I get too caught up in other conversations, let me get to the point of this month’s

I am sure that nearly all, if not all, propane companies require a driver to complete an inspection on a propane tank prior to filling it. I wonder how many companies actually train to that requirement though. Do they outline things like what is being inspected, red flags to look for, what is acceptable, what is not acceptable? I have been thinking back to my training and I can’t recall if it was ever really that specific or not. I also wonder if Service Techs are trained on the same inspection - or is it just assumed they check it every time they are on site?

I am a methodical person, so I tend to have a process for most things I do. I find this is the best way to not forget steps, especially on important tasks such as a tank inspection. Below is my suggested steps for this important responsibility.

1. Start with a basic visual inspection as you approach the tank(s). Look for things like how stable the tank is. Is it level? Check for any changes since the

I will be the first to admit, I used to pass right on by my stash of PPE anytime I was visiting a job or delivering propane. I was a person who always thought it was like winning the lottery, it’ll never happen to me. You’d think I would know better. I had a co-worker get liquid burned on his chest so badly he ended up with a staph infection. Another who was unhooking his delivery hose from an underground tank when the relief valve popped off, blowing liquid into his face and throwing him backwards onto his rear end, leaving him disoriented to the point it took a few minutes for him to realize what happened and remember where he was. We all think that it will never happen, until it does. Luckily, I have never been injured on the job aside from some liquid burns on my fingers, but I have seen and heard enough to know we should be doing everything we can to prevent these accidents from occurring in the first place. As a manager, I should have been setting a better example to the ones I was

Did you know that in the 19th century miners used canaries as gas detectors? A scientist by the name of John Haldane completed a series of studies on the cause of miner deaths and found many were because of airborne poisons. He determined the portability and anatomy of canaries made them an ideal early indicator of airborne poisons. Canaries are especially good at detecting toxins in the air because of their specialized respiratory system. When they inhale, they take in a large amount of air relative to it’s size, part of which it stores in air sacs distributed through their body. When they exhale, the air stored in the air sacs enters the lungs where an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs. So the bird is continuously breathing oxygen both when they inhale and when they exhale. This is what makes them vulnerable to airborne toxins and a good early indicator. How many of you carry canaries on your service trucks and bobtails? Luckily, we have had an advancement or two

EMAIL DARREN TO REQUEST FULL NEWSLETTER WITH METHANOL SAFETY SHEET AND PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: DMCARDLE@GARDNERMARSH.COM

First off, let me just say Happy New Year! May the new year bring you lots of cold weather, gallons sold, and lots of billable service hours!

So, with the cold weather, let’s talk Methanol. Methyl alcohol, or methanol, is a colorless liquid. It is poisonous and can be absorbed through the skin, eyes, lungs, and digestive system. Overexposure can cause harm. In the propane industry, we use methanol to prevent any water that may be present in the propane mix from freezing and interfering with a customer’s propane system. There are two primary topics to discuss with methanol: dosage and safety.

Dosage

The use of methanol in propane systems can reduce or eliminate freezing problems in a customer’s system. However, excessive or over use of methanol can also cause issues such as a separate

Over the past few years, I have heard of far too many preventable accidents involving forklift cylinders, some of which tragically involving fatalities. Below, I am sharing what should be some standard Safety tips on filling forklift cylinders. If we follow these simple actions, we can minimize the preventable accidents and injuries that occur in the field all too often.

1. Always follow your company’s policies & procedures with regard to filling forklift cylinders
2. Forklift cylinders should always be filled or exchanged by trained personnel

III. Wear proper PPE including gloves & eye protection

1. Inspect, Inspect, Inspect
2. Inspect cylinder for leaks, corrosion, denting, bulging, fire damage, or evidence of rough handling to the extent the cylinder is likely to be weakened to the point of condemnation. DO NOT forget the bottom of the cylinder when completing this inspection.
3. Inspect cylinders for retest dates.

Tell me if this sounds familiar.. It’s 4:30pm on Friday and the phone starts ringing.. We all know what happens, any techs or drivers in the building suddenly disappear as if they can escape the imminent short straw draw on who will have to go check the gas line that your customer’s landscaper just hit. Once the politics play out and someone is dispatched to investigate, you find out that they had to repair a line that was only 4-inches deep.

Everyone is aware that per NFPA 6.11.3.13, buried metallic pipe and tubing shall be installed underground with a MINUMUM of 12” of cover. We also know that not all companies/installers follow the rules and operate with Safety as their number one priority. Sometimes they cut corners and sometimes they are pushed to get more done than they can Safely do in one day. I used to have a camper, before I bought it, I did a lot of research. I found that every resource I found told me to check serial numbers and find out if it was manufactured on a Monday

Well, here goes nothing! When I took this role 7 months ago, I overlooked the fact that I would have to put out a regular newsletter. I was pleasantly surprised when I was asked to start this. Admittedly, a bit nervous at the same time too. Writing is not my strong suit, but I look forward to sharing industry knowledge with you. And it doesn’t hurt that my lovely wife is an author and willing to help!

Let me give you a little background on myself. I’m what people call a “Half back” I was born in Massachusetts, moved to the east coast of Florida when I was a kid, then to the west coast for college, then came halfway back and landed in North Carolina. I met my wife in Tampa where we had four kids...in five years...and all of them are girls. Man...that sounds scary when I type it, but at this point, I wouldn’t know what to

Gardner Marsh's extra heavy forged brass fittings are MADE IN THE USA.

National and State Fuel Gas Piping Codes require underground metallic pipe or tubing conveying LP-Gas from a storage container to a building to have a dielectric fitting