Flammable and combustible liquids

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Overview

Flammable and combustible liquids are liquids that burn when they give off enough vapors to ignite. They are classified as either flammable or combustible by their flashpoints.

A flashpoint is the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to ignite at the surface of the liquid. Flashpoints are intended to be used as guides and not as fine lines between safe and unsafe.

Flammable and combustible liquids are present in almost every workplace. Fuels and many common products, such as solvents, thinners, cleaners, adhesives, paints, waxes, and polishes, may be flammable or combustible liquids.

All available content

Publications

Checklists
- Flammable and combustible materials
  Checklist for flammable and combustible materials.
  English
Fact sheets
- Chemical storage guidelines, flammables
  Describes the characteristics of flammable and cobustible liquids, gives examples of common combustible and flammable materials, and offers guidelines for storing them properly.
  English 02/15/2023
- Craft distilleries
  Describes the hazards involved in craft distilling, hazard controls, and safe practices for distilling.
  English 11/25/2014
- Flammable liquids
  Describes basic storage, transfer, and transport requirements for the four classifications of flammable liquids.
  English 11/12/2025
- Isocyanates
  Describes what isocyanates are, why they're extreme health hazards, and how employees can protect themselves.
  English 12/08/2014
Hazard alerts
- Refueling gas cans inside pickup truck beds with liners
  Hazard alert on refueling gas cans inside a pickup truck bed with a bed liner.
  English 12/18/2008
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

Rules and rule-related

Final Rules
Interpretations
- Disposable butane lighters
  03/21/1994
- DOT approved gas cans
  11/09/1999
- Gasoline storage containers
  10/19/1993
Program Directives
- Acceptable Method of Determining Flashpoints
  Purpose: To provide additional guidelines in the application of the subject standard as it relates to various methods for determining "flashpoint" acceptable to Oregon OSHA.
  A-029 11/24/2014
- Flammable Liquids: Aboveground Tanks
  Purpose: This instruction emphasizes that 1910.106(g)(1)(i)(a) does not apply, and therefore cannot be used, to prohibit outside aboveground tank storage of motor fuels not located at service station sites.
  A-115 11/24/2014
- Flammable Liquids: Polyethylene Containers
  Purpose: To allow the use of Department of Transportation (DOT) 34 Polyethylene containers for storing flammable liquids at inside storage areas under certain conditions.
  A-048 11/24/2014
- Flammable Liquids: Storage
  Purpose: This instruction provides guidelines for citing alleged violations resulting from the requirements of 1910.106 (e)(2)(ii)(b).
  A-108 11/24/2014
- Flammable Liquids: Use & Storage
  Purpose: To provide additional information on the application of 1910.106(d)(4).
  A-017 11/24/2014
- Metal Waste Cans
  Purpose: The purpose of this directive is to give guidance on citing for the use of approved nonmetallic waste cans, where the Oregon OSHA rule requires a metal waste can.
  A-050 11/24/2014

Flammable and combustible liquids

Overview

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Education and training

Rules and rule-related

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Additional Resources

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