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ULSD fuel poses static electricity hazards: manufacturer association

Milwaukee – The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is warning machine operators to watch for fire hazards caused by static electricity while refueling equipment with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.

The trade group issued a bulletin in June as part of an outreach effort to educate farm and construction workers about ULSD fuel, which has an increased ability to store a static charge that could discharge and lead to a fire or explosion.

Refueling systems need to be properly maintained to reduce this risk, and industry workers should consult with suppliers to ensure proper compliance with fueling standards for proper grounding and bonding, the bulletin states.

The federal government requires all produced or imported diesel fuel to be ULSD fuel because it burns cleaner.

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