Historically, this wasn’t always understood. In the early days of fuel transport, static discharge during loading, unloading or driving caused a number of serious accidents – some involving massive fires that started without any obvious mechanical failure.
Investigations eventually traced many of these incidents back to static electricity. As the industry learned more about the problem, regulations and best practices evolved to address it.
Grounding chains turned out to be a simple, low-tech and highly effective solution. They were cheap to fit, easy to inspect, and dramatically reduced the risk of static-related ignition events. Over time, they became a standard feature on tanker fleets around the world.
Today, their use is supported and reinforced by industry standards and national regulations that focus on the safe transport of hazardous materials.
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