by Tim Wade, IATSE Safety Chair

How many times during the course of our normal work day, perhaps while just running an errand for the company or simply going home have we discovered that annoying low fuel light has started to flicker? Maybe we just have to pick up and deliver equipment to a job site or even when away from work running chores for the home like picking up the children from a school function. Do we play it close to the line and dare to run out of fuel?

Throughout a normal day, we have set routines just as if it were etched in our memories. We take things for granted because we have done them so many times before. Without knowing better, we may place ourselves in danger when we perform these routines, habits that we sometimes take for granted.

One such instance is while we refuel our motor vehicles. The Shell Oil Company (Shell) has issued a warning regarding the use of cell phones while refueling. Shell cited three instances in which cell phones were the caused gasoline fumes to ignite during the refueling process. One person suffered burns to their thigh and groin areas when the cell phone they had in their pocket rang during refueling. Another person while refueling their vehicle suffered severe burns when they answered their cell phone. Additionally, a fire destroyed an auto as well as the gasoline pump when a person refueling the vehicle placed the cell phone on the trunk lid only to have it ignite gasoline vapors when the phone rang.

Here are some things that you should know about cell phones:

• Cell phones can ignite either fuel or fumes.
• Cell phones that light up when they are switched on or when phones ring are capable of releasing enough energy to provide a source for ignition (spark).
• They should not be used when filling up in service stations, boats, lawn mowers etc.
• They should not be used or operational while around other potentially explosive fumes or dusts i.e. grain dusts, solvents, other chemicals etc,.

Another problem that we may encounter while refueling is static electricity. Robert Renkes of the Petroleum Equipment Institute is trying to make people aware of fires caused by static electricity while refueling. To date they have documented 150 cases of this type of fire. The results, although not alarming when you consider the amount of vehicles that fill up each day throughout the United States, only points out the need for us to be aware of our surroundings while we refuel our vehicles. Mr Renkes also emphasizes that you should never get back into your vehicle while you are refueling. If you have to get back into your vehicle, close the door making sure you touch metal before you reach for the nozzle. Touching metal will cause the static electricity that has built up in your body to discharge. This could eliminate the chance of a static spark from your body being the source of ignition that could cause a fire.

Here are some simple rules you can use while refueling your vehicles:

1. Always turn off your engine.
2. Never smoke while refueling.
3. Leave your cell phone in the car and do not use it until you have finished refueling your vehicle.
4. Do not re-enter your vehicle while you are refueling.
5. If a fire should occur while refueling due to static shock or from cell phone use back away from the vehicle and leave the nozzle in the fill pipe.

For more detailed information on Mr. Renke's study, you can view articles on line at http://www.pei.org/static/fire_summary.htm. Another article that is worth reading is the article on Stop Static located at www.pei.org/news/static.htm. These articles will detail the referenced accidents and give you an insight on how you can prevent them.

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