Volume 13, Number 4 · October 2003

Mobile Phone Safety During Fueling

The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents in which mobile phone (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 the face when fumes ignited as a call was answered while refueling a car. Third, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, which was in a pocket, rang while the car was being refueled.

In a recent release from NEA, the Association of Union Constructors, strong warnings were issued that mobile phones can ignite fuel or fumes. When cell phones light up when switched on or when they ring, they release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition. Cell phones should therefore not be used in filling stations or when fueling lawn mowers, boats, etc. Likewise, they 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.).

In a study of 150 recent cases of fires started by static electricity at gas pumps, the following results were very surprising:

Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
And almost all cases involved getting in or out of a vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas, with resultant static electricity.
Most men never get back into their vehicle until completely finished.
Most had rubber-soled shoes.
It is the vapors that came out of the gas that caused the fire when connected with static charges.
17 fires occurred before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed and before fueling began.

Four rules for safe refueling were offered:

Turn off engine.
Don't smoke.
Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off.
Don't re-enter your vehicle during fueling.

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