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Shell Oil Warning About Mobile Phones Note A middle aged man with a north American accent who works at Monash Uni was observed and strongly (graphically) told by IGA staff not to use his mobile phone whilst filling his car. By - 20th June 2003 - Back to News The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents in which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fuelling operations.
In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during fuelling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the 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 refuelling 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 fuelling 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 fuelling 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.) To sum it up, here are
the:
Four Rules for Safe Refuelling
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 re-enter your vehicle during fuelling 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 vapours that come out of the gas that cause the fire, when connected with static charges.
7) There were! 29 fires where the vehicle was re-entered and the nozzle was touched during refuelling from a variety of makes and models. Some resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer.
8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed and before fuelling began.
Mr. Renkes stresses to
NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling it with gas.
If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping, make sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be
discharged before you ever remove the nozzle.
As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along with several other companies now, are really trying to make the public aware.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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