Truth or a BS email?

[Hampsha]

Here's an email sent to me about cellphones and fueling...

Shell Oil Comments - A MUST READ!Safety Alert!
Here are some reasons why we don't allow cell phones in operating areas, propylene oxide handling and storage area, propane, gas and diesel refueling areas.

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 smoke3) 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.

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.
This is a message that should be passed along.

[nidhogg]

looks like a re-hash of an old story:

snopes.com: Cell Phone Use at Gas Pump

[Rigger]

Common sense should tell you not to do this anyway. I don’t think most phones come with hazards area ratings, If you had a room full of gas or fuel vapor would you use a phone ?

[kingwilly]

looks like a re-hash of an old story:

Indeed.

tis quite simple, if you get an email foward or a facebook message saying this is true, blah blah blah, then it usually is not.

[Thormaturge]

They were filling their cars with aviation spirit?

I worked at a petrol station for many years when I was young and watched, with some amazement, as people even lit up cigarettes with lighters or even matches which they discarded on the forecourt. Never once, thankfully, did I see anything ignite other than their cigarettes.

I can also recall occasionally receiving a mild static electricity charge from the petrol gun, but no cars ever exploded.

[Rigger]

I can also recall occasionally receiving a mild static electricity charge from the petrol gun, but no cars ever exploded

It doesnt happen very often as conditions have to be just right to explode, dont ask me how but on the rigs the arabs have managed to burn down one rig generator and fuel tank and one camp fuel tank on the same rig in the same week while transfuring a tanker load of diesel to large diesel tanks.
Its the fumes that causes the danger, when you reach the lower explosive limit it is possible to ignight with just a spark.
Weather its possible to get a spark from your phone or a enough static elec I really dont know but why take the risk.

[drawp]

MythBusters: Cell Phone Gas Station MiniMyth : Video : Discovery Channel

[Patrick]

It is actually the power - the Amperage - of any spark generated, Intrinsically Safe equipment can also generate a spark under certain conditions but the equipment is designed to output such low Amperage that the spark does not have the energy to ignite and Vapour / Air mixture present in the area.

The restricttions on Mobile Telephones at Refineries, Terminals and Retail Stations are really un-necessary in normal circumstances but the Industry as a whole is super careful and will avoid any possible problem.

That said a few weeks ago I called into my local Caltex station - the pumps are plastered with signs about turning off the engine, switching off mobiles, not smoking, whatever; but there was a transistor radio sitting on a desk in the refuelling area - plugged into an extension cord lying on the ground which was in turn plugged in to a 240 VAC Socket in the Office! As anyone who lives in Thailand will have seen, plugging or unplugging an appliance here invariably results in quite significant sparking and those sparks certainly have enough power to ignite vapour / air in the forecourt. I talked to the station Manager and he simply did not realise the potential danger until I explained it to him.

Patrick

[crippen]

The MAIN reason for the fuel stations asking you to turn your phone off is that it is theoretically possible to reset the pump to Zero using a radiation device near it. Old high-power CB radio's have been known to interfere with the electronics in the pump,and give incorrect readings.

[Little Chuchok]

MythBusters: Cell Phone Gas Station MiniMyth : Video : Discovery Channel

Yep, these guys did this one to death.Myth busted!!

[nigelandjan]

Just delivered last week in Shell,s refinery in Corytown UK had to hand in both mobile phones , fag ligher from inside the cab , turn off my CB and have an escort inside my cab with me ,, so I think they take the spark thing fairly seriously here .

About 5 years ago a big terminal in Hemel Hempstead went up like a bomb and I think they concluded that was a mobile phone ignite ,, mabe a cover I dont know

[Rigger]

The MAIN reason for the fuel stations asking you to turn your phone off is that it is theoretically possible to reset the pump to Zero using a radiation device near it. Old high-power CB radio's have been known to interfere with the electronics in the pump,and give incorrect readings.

Bull shit its the main reason, so why is it they are banned at all locations where there is a possibility of having an explosive atmosphere.

[Gerbil]

It's a load of bollocks.

The real reason they are banned is to reduce the chance of someone being distracted on the phone while operating the pump and ending up pouring petrol out all over the place instead of in their tank.

[Patrick]

The MAIN reason for the fuel stations asking you to turn your phone off is that it is theoretically possible to reset the pump to Zero using a radiation device near it. Old high-power CB radio's have been known to interfere with the electronics in the pump,and give incorrect readings.

Source please?

I have sold, serviced and maintained Retail Dispensers in most Asian Countries over the last 20 years or so and have never found a single instance where RFI has- or could have had - any affect on the Dispensers' functions.

Patrick

[Gerbil]

Bull shit its the main reason, so why is it they are banned at all locations where there is a possibility of having an explosive atmosphere.

Yep, as I said they are mostly banned in potentially dangerous environments, not because the danger they introduce themselves, but because of the greatly increased chance of someone not paying attention to what they are doing when they are on the phone.

[crippen]

^ Can't find any reference for you. But it was in the early days of fuel pumps,before the internet,and the C.B.s used to interfere with all sorts of things,including early pay-phones,my field.

[BaitongBoy]

Distraction and time-wasting on the job are main reasons it seems...

Why are we 'banned' from using mobile phones while driving? It's not the explosive factor...
The oil industry is 'safer than hell,' so their safety standards are extremely high... to the extent that it becomes ridiculous...

[Patrick]

^ Can't find any reference for you. But it was in the early days of fuel pumps,before the internet,and the C.B.s used to interfere with all sorts of things,including early pay-phones,my field.

In the "early days of fuel pumps" the recording Head was simply mechanical, basically a clockwork device - eg Veeder Root.

No Electronics involved at all – so, please tell us how RFI could possibly affect such a Counter.
Patrick

[Rigger]

Bull shit its the main reason, so why is it they are banned at all locations where there is a possibility of having an explosive atmosphere.

Yep, as I said they are mostly banned in potentially dangerous environments, not because the danger they introduce themselves, but because of the greatly increased chance of someone not paying attention to what they are doing when they are on the phone.

The simple fact is all electrical equipment that isnt intrinsicly safe is banned from hazardous areas

[crippen]

^ Can't find any reference for you. But it was in the early days of fuel pumps,before the internet,and the C.B.s used to interfere with all sorts of things,including early pay-phones,my field.

In the "early days of fuel pumps" the recording Head was simply mechanical, basically a clockwork device - eg Veeder Root.

No Electronics involved at all – so, please tell us how RFI could possibly affect such a Counter.
Patrick

AS FAR AS I KNOW (it was a long time ago ),the R/F was resetting the pump by simulating the remote reset from the control in the shop. In the pay-phone case,it was interference on the 'earth' masking the metering pulse from the exchange.Crippen