When can people cleaning Air Force petroleum storage tanks use portable oxygen tanks and masks?

In the context of cleaning petroleum storage tanks, safety is the top priority due to the potential for hazardous atmospheres, such as those containing flammable vapors or toxic gases. The use of portable oxygen tanks and masks is generally avoided because these items can create additional risks, specifically in an environment that may be enriched with flammable vapors.

While specific scenarios may allow for the use of respiratory protection in certain tasks, such as when there are defined safe conditions or when working in an inert environment, the strict guideline is that personnel should not use portable oxygen tanks and masks during tank cleaning operations. This policy exists to minimize the risk of ignition from the equipment itself, as well as to prevent the introduction of additional hazards.

Inert tank cleaning typically implies that the tank has been purged of hazardous conditions, and hot cleaning involves high temperatures that could ignite flammable vapors. Thus, these methods require adherence to strict safety protocols that typically do not allow the introduction of portable oxygen tanks and masks. The safest and most prudent approach is to never use them in such contexts.