This week I have decided to share with my readers a chain e-mail that was forwarded to me, which apparently originated from a very large and reputable petroleum company. Unfortunately I cannot share with you the photos that were attached to this message, but then again they are not pretty pictures, and they certainly bring home the horror of burns injuries, especially in children.
This warning deals mostly with the risks of static electricity at fuel pumps, and also the use of mobile phone devices at gas stations. One would think that it would be common knowledge by now not to use phones at gas stations, however only last week while refueling in Kuta, I happened to witness a very attractive young lady, leaning on her BMW and chatting on the very latest model Nokia while her car was being refueled. Several other customers tried to attract her attention, and warn her of the dangers of what she was doing, but the lady was much to busy with her social agenda to take any heed. Being the last I the queue I quietly reversed and went on to the next gas station.
Text of the message -
With the generalization of self - service facilities in petrol stations people should be warned about the outbreak of fires resulting from static electricity while they are pouring in petrol. 150 cases of this type of fire have been investigated and the results were very surprising.
1.Of the 150 cases, more happened to women than men, due to their habit of getting in and out of the vehicle while the petrol is being poured in. (I assume this may also be due to the fact that women wear more syntheticfiber than men).
2.In the majority of cases the people had re-entered their cars when the hose was still pouring petrol out. When they finished refueling and got out to remove the hose pistol the fire began, as a result of the static electricity.
3.The majority of those affected used rubber-soled footwear and clothes of synthetic fibers.
4.Never use mobile phones when filling up with fuel.
5.It is well known that it is the vapor that comes from the petrol that burns and causes the fire when it makes contact with static charges.
6.In twenty-nine of the cases analyzed, the people re-entered their vehicles and later touched the pistols during the petrol fuelling process. This happened in cars of different varieties of makes and models.
7.Seventeen fires occurred before, during or immediately after the cap of the petrol tank was removed and before starting to fill up with petrol.
8.The static charge often results from when a passenger rubs their clothes against the upholstery of the seats on getting in or out of the vehicle. To avoid this, it is recommendable that NOBODY gets in or out of the vehicle while the petrol is being poured in. Movement in or out should only be done BEFORE starting, or when the fuelling is finished and the petrol cap placed.
9.MAXIMIZE THE PRECAUTIONS if the petrol has spilt or splashed onto the ground. Highly inflammable vapors are immediately produced which can be ignited by sparks of static electricity from the turning on of electronic equipment (mobile phones, remote controls, etc.) or by the ignition of the vehicle itself. BEFORE starting up the engine again, the spilt petrol must be gathered or neutralized by the petrol station staff.
LOADING PETROL
IN YOUR VEHICLE: Stop, put the handbrake on and turn off the engine, radio and lights. NEVER: Never return to your vehicle while you are pouring in fuel. AS A PRECAUTION: Get used to closing the car door on getting out or into the vehicle and in this way the static electricity will be discharged on touching something metallic. After closing the door TOUCH THE METAL PART OF THE BODYWORK before touching the petrol pump pistol. By doing this the static electricity in your body will be discharged on the metal and not on the pistol.
“
Kim Patra is a qualified Registered Nurse and Midwife that has been living and working in Bali for almost twenty years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com”.
