Most industrial facilities, factories, and mills have an industrial tank or two on-site. Whether it’s used for storing food products, chemicals, oil, or gases, it serves the purpose of storing and protecting its contents until they’re ready for use. Unfortunately, many workers and owners make certain mistakes in the maintenance and operation of their tanks, leading to reduced profits, downtime, damaged goods, injuries, or even deaths. Here are several common mistakes to avoid when using industrial tanks to keep your facility safe and productive.
Neglecting Routine Inspections
Your tanks need periodic inspections. This involves both ongoing daily check-ups on their integrity and functionality as well as more thorough annual or biannual inspections by a certified professional. Daily inspections should look for corrosion, signs of structural weakness, leaks, excessive or weakened pressure readings, as well as odors, abnormal sounds, and other indications that something isn’t right. Skipping inspections leaves you open to issues leading to tank failure. Establish a regular inspection schedule with a comprehensive checklist. Out of sight, out of mind, so keep an eye on your tanks!
Improper Cleaning Procedures
Every tank should be subject to regular and thorough cleaning. No matter what an industrial tank contains, the contents likely leave behind a residue or a common form of contamination that may affect the next batch. This may lead to food poisoning, spoilage, and worst-case scenario, chemical reactivity that may lead to explosions, fires, corrosive combinations, and so on. Follow the tank manufacturer’s recommendations for regular maintenance. Study up on industrial tank cleaning services and hire a professional service to do the job. Ensure they’re using the right procedures and products to clean things up.
Incorrect Material Compatibility
The biggest, strongest, and toughest tank is useless if it’s used to store an incompatible product. Some materials react poorly with metal, plastic, and other substances commonly used in the construction of industrial tanks. Verify your tank’s material compatibility with the substances you intend to store in it by consulting material safety data sheets and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Otherwise, you may encounter the unpleasant signs and surprise of corrosion, contamination, and tank failure when it’s too late to do anything about them.
Overfilling the Tank
This should be an obvious one, but too often a tank’s volume is pushed well beyond its limits. It should be clear that whether it’s a 50-gallon tank or a 50,000-gallon one, that tank will hold that much and no more. Still, employee absent-mindedness and negligence can contribute to spills, pressure buildup, and possibly tank rupture. This wastes time and materials and leads to dangerous working conditions. Use level sensors and pressure gauges to monitor tank volume and train workers on the importance of noting fill lines and the consequences of overfilling.
Those are just four common mistakes to avoid when using industrial tanks. Education is key. Ensure your company or facility’s culture is aware of the above mistakes and knows how to avoid them when dealing with your tanks.
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