[list=1]The Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to try and make people aware of fires as a result of "static" (that is, static electricity) at gas pumps. They have researched 150 cases of these fires. The 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.
8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed and before fueling began.

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 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 <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.[/list=1]

 

I hope the gas stations will post these warning signs soon.

 

all BS.

everyone i know talks on the phone while pumping gas, nearly 90% of the people you see pumping gas at a gas station are talking on a phone, and i have not heard of one single incident.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JoeD
[B]all BS.

 

Actually, the cell phone policy is not so much about the static discharge that the rest of those points address (so I am not sure why they stuck it in here; it's a bit misleading), but rather that use of the phone can disrupt the operation of the pumps. Just because you have not heard of any incidents does not mean there's no potential for it. Or do you keep using your cell phone during take-off and landing on a plane as well?

GM had a big problem with this a few years back in Germany. Seems that in their zest to save a few cents per car, they decided not to install some cheap plastic part of the tank that in the past had prevented these static discharges. They had to organize a huge recall to get it fixed...

 

Maybe try reading the links on the page you linked to... Like the bottom one called Static Quo Urban Legends Reference Page. It pretty plainly states that the version of the report you posted is part truth, part urban legend. Cell phones were not mentioned in the PEI report. The sex of the refuelers was not mentioned, either.

I thought the bit about cell phone usage was really odd and I was about to post and ask how a cell phone could cause a fire, but the part that tipped me off was the "please send this information to ALL your family and friends" line. I work in IT and every time I have ever had a customer show me an emailed virus warning that contains a line like that, it has turned out to be a hoax. That doesn't mean it will always be that way, but those kinds of scare tactics should always make you stop and ask yourself, "What is really going on here?"

 

This is insane... I wasn't sure if smiling while reading this was ok

This means that I will WAIT to get gas until ALL WOMEN have left the pumps!!

LOL

 

I've found "truthorfiction.com" to be helpful in situations where you are thinking "WTF," but the cell phone thing came to me via an official U.S. Air Force Safety channel--and they don't promote chain-letter-like congestion-causing e-mail. I believe it, of course I always forget to turn my cell phone off when refueling. Just remember to stand upwind from the fuel nozzle.

 

Things people don't understand:

Don't fill a gas container on your pickup truck, the static electricity created is extremely dangerous. Always fill the can on the ground.

Don't leave your car running while pumping gasoline.

Don't piss on an electric fence.

 

God help us.... is there any reported deaths from this.. I know there has to be in the Darwin awards!