registered contractor number, FSD Form FS251 serial number, maintenance and
expire date should be affixed on the fire extinguishers.
8.4.2 Not less than 2 signs each displaying a notice, in letters and characters not less
than 120 millimetres in height, stating the words “NO SMOKING” in English and
Chinese languages. The signs shall be prominently displayed near the tanker
when discharging LPG.
8.4.3 No less than one set of protective goggles, or other suitable equipment for the
protection of eyesight, and gloves for each person employed on the road tanker
8.4.4 No less than 4 road cones shall be carried on the road tanker.
8.4.5 Communication equipment such as mobile phone or radio telephone shall be
provided on the road tanker.
8.5 Loading and Unloading Operations
8.5.1 General
8.5.1.1 Written loading and unloading procedures including emergency action should be
available and understood by the driver and attendant and their responsibilities
clearly defined.
8.5.1.2 Protective gloves and eye protection shall be worn when carrying out the loading
or unloading operation and particularly when connecting and disconnecting LPG
connections.
8.5.1.3 Persons engaged in loading and unloading of LPG shall wear suitable protective
clothing to avoid frostbite which can occur if LPG comes in contact with
unprotected skin.
8.5.1.4 Bulk tank and road tanker vessel, shall be filled in accordance with Gas Safety
(Gas Supply) Regulation 10 which states that a bulk tank shall not be full of LPG
at a temperature of 52.5oC. As a rule of thumb, bulk tanks and road tanker vessels
shall not be filled more than 85% of the tank volume.
8.5.1.5 A reporting procedure shall be instituted to record every near miss, incident and
accident which occurred during the operation of a road tanker. This may include
traffic accident, LPG release, equipment failure or personal injury, etc.
8.5.1.6 Each person employed on a road tanker shall, at all times when LPG is being
loaded into or discharged from the tanker:
a) be not more than 50 meters from the tanker; and
b) have ready access to the tanker.
Note: In the case of extended fill-connection, the driver shall stay close to the
road tanker to monitor unloading while the attendant shall monitor the filling in
progress at the LPG tank.
LPG Code of Practice, Module 3 43
February 2004
8.5.2 Daily Safety Pre-Trip Checks
8.5.2.1 To ensure that road tankers are in a safe condition to operate, the following daily
pre-trip safety checks shall be carried out before operating the road tanker.
a) The pumps, pipes and fittings, excess flow valves, pressure relief valves,
check valves and hoses should be visually checked for leaks, external damage
and loosening of connections.
b) Equipment that are essential for safety such as, brakes, horn, wiper, lights,
tyre, etc. shall be checked.
c) Check that the safety equipment as listed in 8.4 are present and visually check
that they are in good condition.
d) The anti-static chain shall be checked for adequate length. (if applicable)
e) The operation of the tele-communication equipment shall be checked.
f) A visual inspection of the LPG transfer hoses shall be carried out.
8.5.2.2 A record of the checks shall be kept for two years and any defect or abnormality
identified shall be rectified before operating the road tanker.
8.5.3 Loading to Road Tanker
8.5.3.1 The vehicle shall be positioned at the designated loading area facing the egress
and within easy reach of the transfer connections. The hand brake shall be firmly
applied, and gears disengaged and the engine stopped (except where it is
necessary for driving a vehicle mounted pump). The chock blocks shall be
securely fitted to the undersides of the wheels. The electrical master switch shall
be switched off.
8.5.3.2 The vehicle egress shall be kept clear of obstructions at all times.
8.5.3.3 Personal protective equipment such as protective gloves, goggles shall be worn.
8.5.3.4 The electrostatic bonding connection shall be made between the tanker and the
fixed installation before the LPG lines (liquid and vapour, if applicable) are
connected and not removed until after the LPG lines have been disconnected.
8.5.3.5 Check shall be made to ensure that transfer couplings are properly connected
without use of undue force before loading and check again for any sign of leakage
as transfer commences.
8.5.3.6 Level gauging of the receiving tanker shall be carried out during the loading
operation, with whatever devices are provided, to ensure that the filling
requirements of this Code of Practice are met.
8.5.3.7 Means shall be available to stop loading immediately when the maximum level in
the receiving tanker is reached.
LPG Code of Practice, Module 3 44
February 2004
8.5.3.8 Checks shall be made to confirm there is no overfill by means of the fixed
maximum level gauge before the vehicle leaves the loading bay.
8.5.3.9 If tanker is accidentally overfilled the excess LPG shall be removed in a safe
manner as soon as possible and before departure of the vehicle in accordance with
agreed procedures. See also 8.5.1.1.
8.5.3.10 After disconnection of loading lines, earthing connection, a final check shall be
made that all tanker outlets are properly closed and secured and that the vehicle is
in a fit condition to be driven away.
8.5.4 Unloading from Road Tanker
8.5.4.1 Unloading shall not be undertaken during the hours of darkness without adequate
lighting.
8.5.4.2 The vehicle shall be positioned at the designated unloading bay on level ground as
far as practicable and facing the egress. It shall be within easy reach of the
transfer connection so that the hose is not under tension and at least one turn
remains on the hose reel.
8.5.4.3 The vehicle egress shall be open and kept clear at all times.
8.5.4.4 The hand brake shall be firmly applied and the chock blocks securely fitted to the
undersides of the wheels.
8.5.4.5 The warning signs as described in 8.4.2 shall be prominently displayed near the
road tanker.
8.5.4.6 The fire extinguishers shall be placed at easily accessible positions.
8.5.4.7 The surrounding shall be checked to ensure that neither source of ignition nor
flammable material is present.
8.5.4.8 Earthing/bonding cable shall be engaged before connecting the fill-hose and be
disengaged after disconnecting the fill-hose. Earthing/bonding cable shall be
connected during the entire unloading operation.
8.5.4.9 Fill connections and delivery hoses shall be visually checked for kinks and wear
to ensure that they are in safe working conditions.
8.5.4.10 Hoses shall not be run across a public footpath or pavement for unloading unless
there is no alternative. In such cases, the warning signs referred to in 8.4.2 shall
be prominently displayed at either way of the crossing and the crossing shall be
under the constant supervision of the driver/attendant before and during the
unloading process as far as practicable.
8.5.4.11 Connections must be properly made without use of undue force before unloading
and checks made for any sign of leakage as unloading commences. Any leakage
shall be rectified before proceeding.
LPG Code of Practice, Module 3 45
February 2004
8.5.4.12 The storage capacity of the tank to be filled shall be carefully monitored
throughout the filling operation by means of the content gauges to avoid over-
filling.
8.5.4.13 Fill-connections and fill-hoses shall be checked for leakage throughout the
operation.
8.5.4.14 The pumping rate shall be reduced as and when the maximum permissible level in
the receiving tank is approached particularly when filling small tanks.
8.5.4.15 The delivery shall be stopped immediately when the maximum fill level in the
receiving tanks is reached and isolating valves closed.
8.5.4.16 If a tank is accidentally overfilled, any excess LPG shall be removed as soon as
possible in a safe manner. The tank must not be left in an unsafe condition. The
driver shall notify his supervisor immediately in accordance with agreed
procedures.
8.5.4.17 At the completion of a delivery, the following shall apply:
a) All isolating valves on the tanker shall be closed.
b) All relevant static vessel fill line/vapour line valves shall be closed.
c) Delivery hoses shall be disconnected and stowed or reeled in, and protective
caps (if available) re-attached.
d) The earth continuity wire shall be disconnected from the static vessel after the
hose has been disconnected.
e) Fire extinguishers, chock blocks, notices, etc. shall be returned to the tanker.
f) The gate of the bulk installation shall be locked after verifying that the
vehicle can be safe moved.
8.6 Emergency Tanker to Tanker Product Transfer
8.6.1 All road tanker owners shall have arrangements for dealing with road tankers that
have been involved in an accident or leaking LPG outside of the terminal to
include full details of the arrangements for transporting LPG to another vehicle.
8.6.2 This would normally include a stand alone transfer facility mounted on a trailer
which is capable of transferring LPG from a road tanker to another road tanker or
a static storage tank.
8.6.3 In addition to the general requirements specified in 8.5 the following
precautionary measures shall be applied.
a) The transfer shall take place on essentially level ground and in the open air as
far as practicable.
LPG Code of Practice, Module 3 46
February 2004
b) Both vehicles shall be at least 15 metres from any source of ignition or
occupied premises.
c) Transfer shall not be undertaken during the hours of darkness without
adequate and safe lighting.
8.6.4 When transferring LPG from one tanker to another the general principles
applicable to "Unloading from Road Tanker" (8.5.4) shall be observed with the
receiving tanker being regarded as the static vessel. Additional requirements are:
(a) Both vehicles shall be suitably positioned for ease of transfer hose
connection and shall be prevented from inadvertent movement.
(b) Specific written emergency response procedures shall be written up with
clear step-by-step procedures and include appropriate schematic diagrams.
All possible accident scenarios with the tanker upright on its wheels, lying
on either side or upside down, should be included.
8.7 Parking and Supervision of Vehicles
8.7.1 The vehicle shall not be left unattended in the public highway at any time unless it
is gas free. The vehicle may only be parked in a dedicated area which has been
approved for the storage of LPG in bulk and/or the parking of LPG road tankers.
8.8 Report of Gas Emergency
8.8.1 An accident in which there is significant damage to a gas vehicle, or loss of
containment of LPG from such a vehicle is considered as a “major gas
emergency”.
8.8.2 Where there is a major gas emergency, the RGSC concerned shall:
a) forthwith after it becomes aware of the emergency report the emergency to the
Authority but, in any case, not later than the next working day after the day on
which the emergency occurred;
b) provide the Authority with such information and details in relation to the
emergency as he requires; and
c) not later than 28 days after the day on which the emergency occurred, furnish
the Authority with a written report stating, so far as is reasonably practicable:
(i) the cause of the emergency; and
(ii) the actions which are or have been implemented to prevent, so far as is
reasonably practicable, the recurrence of any similar emergency.
8.8.3 Following a major gas emergency happened on a road tanker, the owner of the
vehicle shall not put back the vehicle into operation unless he has obtained the
permission from the Authority to do so.
LPG Code of Practice, Module 3 47
February 2004
