Safety tip: Place gas cans on ground before filling
Safety tip: Place gas cans on ground before filling
A common practice among workers actually is an extremely dangerous fire hazard, according to a special warning issued recently by safety experts.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Cincinnati reports it has received several reports of fires spontaneously igniting when workers attempt to fill portable gasoline containers in the backs of pickup trucks equipped with plastic bed liners or in cars with carpeted surfaces. Serious skin burns and other injuries resulted from the accidents.
The fires resulted from the buildup of static electricity. The insulating effect of the bed liner or carpet prevents the static charge generated by gasoline flowing into the container or other sources from grounding. The discharge of the buildup to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle may cause a spark and ignite the gasoline. Both ungrounded metal and plastic gas containers have been involved in the incidents, but NIOSH considers the metal containers more at risk.
To avoid the risk of fire, NIOSH suggests occupational health professionals pass on these warnings to workers:
• Always place a gas can on the ground before fueling.
• Touch the can with the gas dispenser nozzle before removing the can lid.
• Keep the gas dispenser nozzle in contact with the can inlet when filling.
NIOSH also recommends placing these warnings in prominent places at refueling sites and on any gas containers used in the workplace.
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