No Aircraft
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
When I was trained in fueling; I was trained that the dust covers over the nozzle was of the utmost importance to keep contaminants out of the fuel. I was trained that if your truck was missing a dust cap from the nozzle for any period of time the truck had to be taken out of service and had to be checked for contaminants through a series of tests before the vehicle could be rendered safe again to operate. The Company was so strict on this policy that you were given clean white rags that you would wipe the top of your nozzle off before you hooked your nozzle to the Aircraft. The reason I am writing this safety report is that I was informed that this is no longer the policy and all they do is simply put the dust cap back on the nozzle or if it was nonexistent they simply get one and place it on. I have seen a large amount of Fuel Trucks with dust caps not over the nozzle or simply missing from the truck completely. Now with all of the glycol; ice melter dust; and all the other stuff floating around the airport; how can this not be dangerous for our passengers and our aircraft? I was trained that contaminants in the fuel can cause a flameout which ultimately can cause a crash.
Fuel Truck Operator questioned the safety implications of relaxing the Company requirement for strict adherence to the use of dust covers on fuel nozzles.