Oil Co. Announcement
Importance: High


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 re-enter 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 re-entered 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.

Myth Busters on TV tried about 30 times to get a cell phone
to ignite gas fumes in a tank. Sprayed HUGE amounts of
fumes with oxygen, and NEVER ONCE got it to do a thing.

Real cause? Static spark from people leaving a car seat
without touching metal before 'sparking' near the fumes
at the gas spout.

Utter bull**** - just an urban myth with no facts to back it up.


"Nomen Nescio" wrote in message
...
In article t
"Marty B." wrote:

Bull****. Read mo
http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

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

YAWN...urban myth. Who at Shell sent this out? Proof, please. URL? No one I
know at corp. knew anything about this.

You should know that:
Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes

BS....we tested radios, cell phones and other devices (cameras, etc) and not
one problem without purposely trying to ignite fumes (i.e., short circuiting
battery while in presence of fumes...Darwin Award level tricks)

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.

This is the ONLY true item in your posting. Static electricity has been
implicated in almost every vapor related fire (tho lighting cigs are also
ignition sources).

Proof? I designed, built and sold fuel dispensing systems during different
parts of my career. Heck, I donated the old Clegg FM27B which we used for RF
testing and ignition testing in the old lab....

A

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


YAWN...urban myth. Who at Shell sent this out? Proof, please. URL? No
one I
know at corp. knew anything about this.

You should know that:
Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes

BS....we tested radios, cell phones and other devices (cameras, etc) and
not
one problem without purposely trying to ignite fumes (i.e., short
circuiting
battery while in presence of fumes...Darwin Award level tricks)

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.

This is the ONLY true item in your posting. Static electricity has been
implicated in almost every vapor related fire (tho lighting cigs are also
ignition sources).

Proof? I designed, built and sold fuel dispensing systems during
different
parts of my career. Heck, I donated the old Clegg FM27B which we used for
RF
testing and ignition testing in the old lab....

A

There was a story done on this very same topic last week or so on the
evening news.... One of those which follows your local news at 6. They said
that many tests indicated that it was NOT the cell phones, but rather the
Static - as others have indicated.

Lou

On Mon, 24 May 2004 23:26:21 GMT, "JOE"
wrote:

Utter bull**** - just an urban myth with no facts to back it up.

No it's not! It happened to my brothers cousins sisters nephews uncles
brothers best friends sister! It was a week before she awoke in a
bathtub filled with ice and the words "CALL 911" written in blood on
the mirror! Her kidney was stolen!
--
To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.

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.

This is the ONLY true item in your posting. Static electricity has been
implicated in almost every vapor related fire (tho lighting cigs are also
ignition sources).




There was a story done on this very same topic last week or so on the
evening news.... One of those which follows your local news at 6. They said
that many tests indicated that it was NOT the cell phones, but rather the
Static - as others have indicated.




What is new about this?

50 years ago when I was in the Air Force there were restrictions on
wearing static producing clothing on the flight line due to the danger
of igniting fuel fumes.

Dave