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Fuel and Solvent Safety

Fuels and solvents are used so often on a farm that their hazards fade into the background. This guide brings them back into focus with general habits and points to official sources for the details.

What makes fuels and solvents risky?

These products can catch fire, and their vapors can irritate the eyes and lungs or cause headaches and dizziness when breathed in a closed space. Many of them can also irritate or dry out the skin with repeated contact.

Each product is different, so the label and the safety data sheet are your first reference. Solvents used for cleaning parts or thinning products can be more hazardous than the fuel in the tank, and they are often stored with less care.

Keep a list of every fuel and solvent on the place, including the small cans in trucks and the half-empty jugs in the back of the shop. Anything you cannot identify should be treated as unknown and set aside for disposal.

How should I use them day to day?

Use the product only for what it is made for. Fuel is not a cleaner, a fire starter or a way to wash grease off hands, and a solvent should never be poured down a drain or onto the ground.

Work outdoors or in a place with plenty of fresh air, keep containers closed when you are not pouring, and take your time. Rushing causes spills, and spills cause most of the trouble.

• Use each product only for its intended purpose.
• Keep lids closed between uses.
• Work where fresh air can move through.
• Never siphon by mouth or use gasoline to clean skin.

How do I protect my skin and eyes?

Contact with skin and eyes is one of the most common ways people are harmed by solvents. The correct gloves and eye protection depend on the specific product, and the safety data sheet and the glove maker's guidance say what suits it.

Wash exposed skin and change out of soaked clothing as the product guidance advises. If your eyes are splashed or you feel unwell, follow the safety data sheet and seek medical help, and call 911 in an emergency.

What about ignition sources?

Keep sparks, flames, hot surfaces and smoking away from places where fuel and solvent vapors collect. Engines should be off and cool before fueling, and electrical equipment near storage should be suitable for the job.

Static electricity can also ignite vapors in some conditions. Equipment manuals and your fire department can explain the right habits for your tanks and containers, and they are better guides than memory.

Fueling in a hurry at the end of a long day is when many mistakes happen. Slow down, stay with the nozzle, and do not leave a running pump unattended.

How should I store and dispose of leftovers?

Store products in their original or approved labeled containers, in a cool, secure place away from living areas and ignition sources. Keep them where children and animals cannot reach.

Leftover solvents, old fuel and used rags can be hazardous waste. Do not dump them or burn them. Ask your state environmental agency or local waste authority about collection programs and disposal rules in your area.

How do I keep family and workers safe?

Tell everyone who helps on the farm which products are in the shop, where they are kept and what the rules are. New and young workers in particular need clear, specific instructions and someone nearby to ask.

Labor rules limit what young people may do on farms. Check with the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division and confirm there what applies to the work in question before assigning tasks.

What should I do if something goes wrong?

If there is a fire, a large spill, or anyone is hurt or having trouble breathing, get away from the area and call 911. This site does not give firefighting or first aid steps.

After a smaller incident, take time to find the cause. Replace worn hoses and containers, fix the habit that led to the spill, and talk it over with the whole crew. Keep a simple log of near misses and what you changed. Write the name of each product on its container in clear letters, and keep the safety data sheets in a binder near the door. When everyone can see what is in a container, accidental misuse becomes much less likely, especially during busy weeks with extra help.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.