"Virus Hoaxes"
Virus Hoax Warnings: Page 7 of 81
Static At The Gas Pump Warning July 2002 I've seen this one alone and combined with the cell phone warning. There really is a Petroleum Equipment Institute and it really is working on a safety campaign about static electricity at gas pumps. Static electric sparks and gas fumes are a known problem. This is why the nozzles of gas pumps are grounded, to remove any static charge from a car while it is being refueled. This is a very successful setup as evidenced by the statistics presented by the Petroleum Equipment Institute. According to their report, Americans fill their cars 16 to 18 billion times a year and they have evidence of about 150 ignitions due to static a year. That's a risk of 150/16,000,000,000 = 0.000000009 per fill up or one fire per 107,000,000 fill ups per year. Most of the facts and figures stated in the warning appear to have been made up by the writer to make the warning appear more important. For example, the warning about cell phones is not included in the Institute report. In fact the institute says "PEI has not documented any cases of cellular phones causing fires at gas stations". The Petroleum Equipment Institute has the following safety rules for refueling a car, Turn Off Engine Don't Smoke Never Re-enter Your Vehicle The last one concerns static generated when you slide across your seat. This short video shows you the possible consequences. If you are concerned, simply touch the metal part of your car away from the gas filler hole before going near the filler hole. That will discharge the static buildup between you through the car away from any gas fumes. There is a risk when siphoning gas because siphons are not grounded. If you are filling a gas can for your lawnmower or other gas appliance by siphoning the gas out of your gas tank, keep in mind that the plastic pipe you are using is not grounded. Touching a metal part of the car away from the filler hole and the ground (with your hand, not through your rubber soled shoes) at the same time will discharge the car and reduce the risk of making a spark. 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 and they went back to pull the nozzle out 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 reentered and the nozzle was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer. 8) Seventeen fires that 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 . 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. Thanks for passing this along. Cora Velasco, Analyst ChevronTexaco Credit Card Enterprises, Risk Management and Portfolio Optimization 2003 Diamond Blvd. #31026, Concord, CA 94520 Tel 925 827-xxxx Fax 925 827-xxxx
Copyright 2004 by Jay Jennings
|