Dos

1
Dos Donts at the Gas Pump

• Static Electricity Fires How to Prevent Them
• Cathy Burkett
• Extension Educator
• Rush County

2
Objectives

• How to handle, store, and dispose of gasoline
  safely
• What static electricity is and how it can affect
  refueling your vehicle
• Safety guidelines on vehicle refueling and
  gasoline storage

3
What Is Gasoline and How Should It Be Stored?

• Liquid produces very flammable vapors
• Store at room temperature
• Store away from heat sources

4
Handling Storing Gasoline

• Approved containers
• Disposal
• Kitty litter, absorbent clay, paper, or rags for
  minor spills
• Approved containers for larger spills
• NEVER dispose into garbage, drains, toilets, or
  sewers
• Long-term storage add stabilizer

5
Precautionary Measures

• Do not smoke or light matches where gasoline is
  handled or stored
• Keep out of reach of children
• Handle outdoors for ventilation
• Keep containers tightly closed

6
Precautionary Measures

• Do NOT mix gasoline with kerosene or diesel
• Store in a separate building, if possible
• Refill lawn mower only when engine is COOL
• Fill no more than 95 to allow for expansion

7
Static Electricity

• Caused by imbalance of electrons on surface of
  material
• Most commonly caused by contact and separation of
  materials
• Shock occurs with transfer of static charge

8
How Do Refueling Fires Happen?

• Static charge picked up when re-entering
  vehicle
• Touching nozzle without discharging static
  electricity
• A spark ignites fumes

9
How Often Do They Occur?

• Fires are reported to the Petroleum Equipment
  Institute Web site
• Most static fires have been reported since 1998
• No one knows how many 175 have been reported
  since 1992

10
Three Causes of Static Fires

• 50 happen when the refueler returns to the
  vehicle during refueling and doesnt shut the car
  door
• 29 happen when the refueler unscrews the gas cap
• 21 happen for unknown reasons

11
Why? Some Theories

• Self-serve gas pumps
• More electronics in cars
• Seat cover fabrics
• Clothing worn by driver
• Tires
• Dissimilar car parts
• More volatile fuels

12
Who Are the Victims?

• 78 are women who re-enter a vehicle to

• Return credit card to purse
• Get money out of purse
• Check on the kids
• Write a check
• Get warm
• Write down odometer reading
• Use cell phone
• Apply lipstick

13
Safety Guidelines When Refueling

• ALWAYS turn off vehicle when refueling
• STAY near vehicle fueling port
• NEVER smoke, light matches, or use lighters while
  refueling
• NEVER prop open the refueling latch use only
  the hold-open latch on the nozzle

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More Safety Guidelines

• DO NOT get back into your car when refueling
• DO NOT top off your tank
• If a flash fire occurs, back away, contact
  attendant, and most important
• LEAVE NOZZLE IN VEHICLE

15
Guidelines for Gasoline Containers

• Use only approved containers
• Set gasoline containers on the ground, do not
  leave in vehicle trunk, truck bed
• Keep the nozzle in contact with the container
• Fill the container slowly to decrease the chance
  of static electricity buildup and to minimize
  spilling or spattering

16
Self-ServicePump Warning
This is a warning sign that appears on pumps
today
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New Nozzle Signage

• WARNING
• Improper use may cause a hazardous condition
• No smoking/extinguish all flames
• Avoid static hazard remain at nozzle
• Do not top off
• Licensed drivers only
• Refer to posted warnings

18
New Pump Signage

• Discharge your static electricity before fueling
  by touching a metal surface away from the nozzle.
• Do not re-enter your vehicle while gasoline is
  pumping.
• If a fire starts, do not remove nozzle then
  back away immediately.
• Do not allow children under licensed age to use
  the pump.

19
Additional Information

• Go online at
• www.pei.org/static
• www.api-ec.api.org click on Safety at the Pump
• www.static-sol.com click on Static Shocks and How
  to Avoid Them
• A big thank you to Robert Renkes, executive vice
  president and general
• counsel of the Petroleum Equipment Institute, and
  April Mason,
• associate dean for discovery and engagement,
  Purdue University
• School of Consumer and Family Sciences, for all
  of their
• help and support in putting this program together.

20
And Finally

• Be alert and be safe when refueling!