[BARC-List] [Fwd: Fw: Cell Phones & Gasoline are no joke!]

Mon, 15 Sep 2003 12:10:15 -0400

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fw:  Cell Phones & Gasoline are no joke!
Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2003 09:10:24 -0400
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected],[email protected], [email protected],
[email protected],[email protected]

----- Forwarded by Bill Foley/MAS/USE/SArmy on 09/15/2003 09:03 AM -----

                      Phil Van
Brunt                                                                       
                                               To:       Barbara Van
Brunt/MAS/USE/SArmy@USE, Fred Van     
                      09/15/2003 03:57          Brunt/MAS/USE/SArmy@USE,
[email protected], Bill          
                      AM                        Foley/MAS/USE/SArmy@USE,
[email protected],            

[email protected], Donald & Priscilla            

Klemanski/GNY/USE/SArmy@USE, Frank                         

Klemanski/MAS/USE/SArmy@USE, Sherrie                       

Klemanski/MAS/USE/SArmy@USE, William                       
                                                Bode/MAS/USE/SArmy@USE,
Joan Bode/MAS/USE/SArmy@USE        

cc:                                                         
                                               Subject:  Fw:  Cell
Phones & Gasoline are no joke!          

Phil Van Brunt
The Salvation Army
Disaster Services Coordinator
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire
)207( 774-6305 - Voice Mailbox  #601
----- Forwarded by Phil Van Brunt/NNE/USE/SArmy on 09/15/2003 03:36 AM
-----

Subject: Cell Phones & Gasoline are no joke!

The Verizon EI safety group is sending this to all managers and
technicians.  It is worth reading.

The  Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents
in
which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling 
operations.

In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's  trunk lid during
fueling; 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 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.)

To sum it up, here are the: 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, they went back
to
pull the nozzle out and 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
resulted in extensive damage to the vehicle, to  the station, and to the
customer.
8) Seventeen fires occurred before, during  or immediately after the gas
cap was removed and before fueling  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
of this danger. You can  find out more information by going to
http://www.pei.org . Once here, click in the center of the screen where
it
says  "Stop Static."

I ask you to please send this information to ALL your  family and
friends,
especially those who have kids in the car with them while  pumping gas.
If this were to happen to them, they may not be able to get  the
children
out in time. Thanks for passing this along.