Fuel safety

[KCB]

In lieu of the recent fueling incident in Texas, I thought this link might be of some interest. I think all of us are often complacent with fuel handling. It's surprising what we can get by with but often devastating when we don't. I can't imagine my kids being strapped in car seats while I'm on fire, and the car is essentially a mollitoff (sp?) cocktail.

Have a safe Holiday and happy tractoring!


http://www.pei.org/static/index.htm

 

[normde2001]

Since the Texas fueling accident, I have seen news footage of several fueling fires, and there seems to be a common occurance that has not been mentioned. I believe that in every case the fuel handle has been locked down for continious fueling, because in each case, even after the person has caught fire and dropped the hose, the fuel continues to flow. Perhaps they should do away with that lock.

 

[MikePA]

The incidents also mention people putting rocks, gas caps, etc. in the handle of the filler nozzle to block them open. If there were no continuos fill feature, people would just find something else to block it open so it can't shut off. As the web site says, if people would follow three simple steps, there'd be no problem

1. Turn Off Engine
2. Don't Smoke
3. Never Re-enter Your Vehicle

 

[njrqs]

What is that incident to which you refer??

 

[Bird]

I assumed he was talking about an incident that made all the TV news lately in which a fellow was standing in the bed of his pickup filling some fuel cans (metal cans I would guess, although that was not stated in any of the news accounts I watched) in Austin, Texas. Apparently, static electricity made a spark as he touched the nozzle to a can, he flinched without turning loose of the handle on the nozzle, sprayed a little gasoline in the bed of the truck, he was standing in it, so he jumped out of the truck with both legs on fire, ran in front of the truck, and bystanders yelled at him to fall and roll, and a couple of the bystanders beat the fire out with some kind of towels or clothing. Someone was filming the incident, but not the best pictures you've ever seen. The guy was recently interviewed in the hospital for another news story. He's going to recover, but it's going to be a tough row to hoe. However, I never did find that story on the site cited.

 

[Steven]

you also need to watch out for static electricity, you put gas nozzle in car on automatic, hop back in car to keep warm and slide on seat (build up a littlte static), hose stops so you open the door to go remove the nozzle and that little static monster leaps at the nozzle and you now get realy warm. So touch something else first to discharge any static electricity you may have stored on your body before touching the gas nozzles. I guess this happens alot and not many people realy think about it.

 

[MossRoad]

Every time I get out of my conversion van I stand on the ground. As soon as I touch the door handle or any other unpainted surface on the van I get a pretty good static spark. I am warry of this and always touch something else at the filling station. I've never had a vehicle that did this before. There must be something in the seat material fabric that causes it. It happens EVERY time and I can reproduce it over and over again. Very scary when you think of the consequences.

 

[chim]

I had a pickup that for some reason was really bad at shocking me when I'd get out. I discovered that if I held the metal on the chromed (inside) door handle till my foot was on the ground, I usually didn't even feel the static. It was still there, but apparently became distributed over a large surface on my hand. Every once in a while, I'd forget the drill, and get stung on the back of my calf as my foot contacted the ground, and I didn't quite clear the door sill with the back of my leg.................chim

 

[neilw]

Around here all the gas pumps tell you to not fill portable gas containers unless the containers are sitting on the ground.

Anyone who saw that footage should never forget that safety tip. Seeing it made me feel and smell things I had not thought about in many years.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to this soldier. I think he is in the best burn center the military has. Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

 

[bgott]

I'm guessing the Scotchgard they use on seats nowdays is the culprit. My Dodge used to be really bad about charging me up when it was new. If I discharged myself using the flat of my hand on the door it wasn't bad, I would forget half the time and get about three quarters of an inch of lightning off of the end of my finger when I'd reach for the power door lock button. That stung! Factor in that just about all the switches are tied into the computer or computers on a modern car and it makes me wonder how many multiple undiagnosable electronic failures can be attributed to people discharging high voltage into the system via the ends of their fingers. I've heard that you can lessen or alleviate the problem by spraying liquid fabric softener on the seats but I've never tried it.