PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTIVE 4.4 Issued Date: 11-30-01 Effective Date: 11-30-01 Updated Date: SUBJECT: OBTAINING FUEL FROM CITY REFUELING STATIONS 1. POLICY A. Philadelphia Police personnel are authorized to obtain fuel at self-service City refueling installations for City-owned vehicles only. NOTE: Vehicles used for police business that are leased or privately owned and are not equipped with the gas tank ring that allows refueling at City refueling stations are to be refueled at Sunoco gas stations where the fuel gets charged to a credit card assigned to the unit that uses that vehicle. B. Fuel sites are equipped with a Veeder-Root tank monitoring system. This system creates a daily report which must be kept on file subject to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) audit. 2. RESPONSIBILITY: A. It shall be the operator s responsibility to properly maintain their assigned vehicle during each tour of duty. Police vehicles should never be returned to their district of assignment with less than a half tank of gas. B. Notify the Operation Room Supervisor (ORS) if there are any problems with the fuel ring in the assigned vehicle gas tank or with any aborted attempts to pump fuel into the vehicle. 3. OBTAINING FUEL: A. Fuel can be obtained at any City Fuel Dispensing Facility. Refer to attached City refueling site location sheet. B. All police vehicles are equipped with rings in the gas tank which allows for refueling at the City Fuel Dispensing Facilities without the use of fuel cards. DIRECTIVE 4.4-1
C. Operators will drive up to a pump, shut off ignition, remove gas tank cap, and insert the gas pump nozzle into tank and move gas pump on/off lever to ON position. When the gas tank is full and pump shuts off, remove nozzle from tank and return it to the gas pump. Reattach gas cap lid. NOTE: Never top-off gas tank. Once the pump shuts off immediately stop pumping gas and remove nozzle from gas tank. Never leave car unattended while it is in the process of being refueled. This presents a potential safety hazard. D. If the gas pump fails to turn on once the nozzle has been inserted into the tank, it may be due to a defective tank ring. The officer should re-insert the dispensing nozzle into the gas tank. A secure fit or contact must be maintained in order for the pump nozzle to operate properly. If this attempt is unsuccessful the operator should then try using another gas pump at the same refueling site. If still unable to pump gas into the vehicle, they should report the defective tank ring to their ORS immediately. E. The inability to pump fuel may also be due to a defective gas pump. If a gas pump is defective, notify the ORS in the district where the pump is located so that it can be reported to the servicing center at the Office of Fleet Management at (215) xxx-xxxx/xx. 4. RESPONSIBILITY OF OPERATION ROOM SUPERVISOR A. The ORS in the district where the vehicle is assigned will report any gas tank ring problems immediately to the Police Garage, 3900 Richmond Street at (215) xxx-xxxx. B. The ORS in the district where the City Fuel Dispensing Facility is located will: 1. At the beginning of every 8-4 tour of duty go to the gas facility and retrieve the print- out from the Veeder-Root system that indicates how much gas is remaining in the underground tank. (Refer to the attached Veeder-Root TLS-350 Key Instruction sheet). 2. Notify the administrative supervisor on the 8-4 shift whenever the remaining tank level reaches 1,500 gallons. The supervisor will then order fuel for that refueling facility and the gas pumps will be shut off at this time for refueling. 3. The ORS will notify Police Radio that the pumps are shut down until further notice. DIRECTIVE 4.4-2
5. SAFETY RULES FOR CITY REFUELING STATIONS A. The ORS at the City refueling station during each tour of duty will ensure that the following safety rules are adhered to: 1. Notify the Fire Department immediately in the event of fire or presence of an unusually heavy or abnormal vapor odor. 2. In addition to entrance and exit driveways, the entire fueling area will be kept clear of vehicles at all times to provide free access of fire equipment when required. 3. Under no condition is smoking or an open flame of any kind permitted around the fueling area (a minimum of 25 foot radius from gas pump). 4. No smoking signs must be posted and adhered to wherever gasoline is dispensed. 5. The vehicle ignition and radio will be turned off while vehicle is being fueled. It is not necessary to shut off the MDT while refueling the vehicle. 6. Vehicles will not be refueled when occupied by passengers. 7. At sites where a water line is accessible ensure that water line and hose located near fueling area are working properly. Sawdust may be utilized for gasoline spills. 8. Dry powder or CO2 fire extinguishers must always be near the pump and in proper operating condition. 9. Vehicles and other spark-producing equipment will not be operated within 50 feet of a gasoline spill until the exposed area has been thoroughly cleared of gasoline and flammable vapors have dissipated. 10. The daily report printed out from the Veeder-Root system each day must be kept on file subject to EPA audit. 11. There will be no trash storage around the pump areas. 12. Interference with the automatic shut-off control on the gas pump nozzle by holding the handle open with a gas cap, wedge, or other device is prohibited. 13. Gasoline will not be dispensed into containers unless the dispensing nozzle and containers are in constant electrical bond (to prevent static sparking). Glass containers are prohibited. DIRECTIVE 4.4-3
14. Do not assume you have an automatic shut-off nozzle. The dispensing nozzle must be firmly in contact with the fill pipe to prevent static sparking and attended at all times while in use. Do not fill tanks to the brim. This will prevent overflow and splash-back and allow for tank expansion. 15. Always keep your eyes and face at a safe distance away from the fill pipe and nozzle and avoid inhaling vapors. (Attachments on following pages) RELATED PROCEDURES: Directive 9.7, Safe Operation of Police Vehicles BY ORDER OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONER DIRECTIVE 4.4-4
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