FOR YOUR SAFETY

The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning 
after three incidents in which mobile phones 
(cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling operations. 
(Channel 10 carried a story last night about a 
fueling fire.) 

In the first case, the phone was placed on the 
car's trunk lid during fueling; it rang and the 
ensuing fire destroyed car and the gasoline pump. 

In the second, an individual suffered severe burns 
to their face when fumes ignited as they answered 
a call while refueling their car. 
 
And in the third, an individual suffered burns to 
the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, 
which was in their pocket, rang while they were 
fueling their car. 
 
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT Mobile Phones can ignite fuel 
or fumes. Mobile phones that light up when switched 
on or when they ring release enough energy to provide 
a spark for ignition. Mobile phones should not be 
used in filling stations, or when fueling lawn mowers, 
boat, etc. 
 
Mobile phones should not be used, or should be 
turned off, around other materials that generate 
flammable or explosive fumes or dust, i.e., 
solvents, chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc. 
 
Another safety warning you should know about 
concerns static electricity. Below is an email from 
Pat Cabiling who works at Chevron Texaco's Richmond 
Refinery. 
 
FOUR RULES FOR SAFE REFUELING 

1) Turn off engine. 

2) Don't smoke. 

3) Don't use your cell phone -- leave it inside 
   the vehicle or turn it off.

4) Don't reenter your vehicle during fueling. 
   Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is 
   working on a campaign to try and make people 
   aware of fires as a result of "Static Electricity" 
   at gas pumps. His company has researched 150 cases 
   of these fires. His results were very surprising: 

1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women. 

2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back 
   in their vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping 
   gas, when finished and they went back to pull the 
   nozzle out the fire started, as a result of static. 

3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes. 

4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until 
   completely finished. This is why they are seldom 
   involved in these types of fires. 

5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas 

6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that 
   cause the fire, when connected with static charges. 

7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was reentered 
   and the nozzle was touched during refueling from a 
   variety of makes and models. Some resulting in 
   extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, 
   and to the customer.