Gas Truck Ignites At Station VIDEO

[ben45750]

This driver gets a phone call on his cell phone while on the top of a tanker and the cell actually ignites the gasoline setting him on fire.

http://www.break.com/index/gas-truck...t-station.html

[Fozzy]

Read the comments.. it was static that was the culprit, not a cell phone, the truck was not grounded yet and screwing around with a gas tanker before some kind of ground is established is just not too smart. I'm not sure what the guy was doing on top of the tank in the first place.

[Trukrswyfe]

That is terrible, I almost wanted my husband to be a tanker yanker.

Scary, I guess I will not call him when he is working.

[ajritter04]

Cell phones ARE NOT a sufficient source of ignition to cause gasoline fumes to ignite. I've used a cell phone around fuel pumps for many years. Obviously, I am still here..so I haven't "done blowed up" yet.

http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

From Mythbusters, Episode 2:

Using one’s cell phone while pumping gas/petrol can cause an explosion.

BUSTED

A properly-working cell phone poses almost no danger of igniting gasoline, even when surrounded by gasoline vapor with the optimum fuel-air mix for ignition. The actual risk comes from an electrostatic discharge between a charged driver and the car, often a result of continually getting into and out of the vehicle.

(This myth was revisited in episode 14 and it was busted again.)


From Mythbusters, Episode 14:

REVISITED: Using one’s cell phone while pumping gas/petrol can cause an explosion. (From Episode 2)

RE-BUSTED

The battery of retests the MythBusters performed reaffirmed their original Busted verdict.

[ben45750]

Read the comments.. it was static that was the culprit, not a cell phone, the truck was not grounded yet and screwing around with a gas tanker before some kind of ground is established is just not too smart. I'm not sure what the guy was doing on top of the tank in the first place.

You watch too much tv. As for the comments anyone can post a comment.

ANY battery operated device near flammable vapors can create a ignition and can create a static charge than can ground through your body.

[thebaldeagle655]

Basically, there is no point in anyone arguing about whether it was static or the cell phone because we not only don't know,. we will never know! From what I saw, the guy that climbed on top and caused the fire was pissed already and the driver wasn't helping by not parking in the exact spot the ground guide wanted and having to move the truck twice. The guy climbed onto the truck and although someone else may have grounded the truck, it was not evident in the video. Whether the cell phone contributed or not, I personally think that the employee's bad attitude caused him to skip an important step of grounding prior to climbing onto the tank. I just hope and pray that he was not seriously injured!!

[TCT]

A cell phone can definitely ignite gas vapors, especially if you are on top of a tanker opening up the dome lid. Anyone who has opened up a dome lid knows that the fumes will make you take a few steps back. Many stations now have signs that say no smoking or cell phone use within 25 ft. There is a big difference in vapor loss between pumping into your car and when you open a dome lid on a fuel tanker, and I wouldn't be on the phone doing either, it's not worth the chance.

One thing is certain, if anybody walks up to my tanker smoking or on a cell phone while I'm dropping fuel they better stop on command or they will get dropped on the spot... guaranteed.

[Fozzy]

A cell phone can definitely ignite gas vapors, especially if you are on top of a tanker opening up the dome lid. Anyone who has opened up a dome lid knows that the fumes will make you take a few steps back. Many stations now have signs that say no smoking or cell phone use within 25 ft. There is a big difference in vapor loss between pumping into your car and when you open a dome lid on a fuel tanker, and I wouldn't be on the phone doing either, it's not worth the chance.

One thing is certain, if anybody walks up to my tanker smoking or on a cell phone while I'm dropping fuel they better stop on command or they will get dropped on the spot... guaranteed.

Why on earth would you open the dome lids anyway? This whole video is suspect on the face of that. There is no need to open the dome lids to unload at a gas station.. AND, I've never been to a place where some attendant did anything but stay inside and lean on something. The cell phone thing is an urban myth! It's been tested, a tested and tested again. If you want to believe that a cell phone will blow you up,, then goodie goodie for you. You shouldn't be talking on a cell phone when working anyway.

[ben45750]

I dunno? Hard to tell if it was static or something on the truck caused it. I watched it frame by frame and his hands aren't near the lid when it blows up. It blows up when he reaches in his pocket and pulls out what might be the phone, then it blows up. I would think static would make the vapors ignite instantaneously when his hands were down towards the lid?

I slowed the last couple frames down so you can see where his hands are. the frame rate isn't the best though.

[ben45750]

Many stations now have signs that say no smoking or cell phone use within 25 ft.

Most all of the racks will ban you if they see you on a cell phone while loading also if we are observed using a phone while we a dropping fuel at a station. No questions asked.... Your fired.

Yeah, the vapors coming out of the dome lid can be massive when there is fuel in a compartment. Sometimes we have to pump fuel out of the ground if there is a problem with the tanks. A second person has to be up on top of the trailer observing so you don't overfill a compartment and when that lid is open you can easily see the vapors going 2-3 feet in the air.

[Fozzy]

I really think the no cell phone while loading and unloading have more to do with avoiding a major spill and or unloading problem more than the mystery cell phone spark problem. Dealing with this stuff should require the person doing it to actually do the job correctly.

I personally never could understand people who start product flowing and hop into the cab thing either.. and I was hauling propane in the CA/NV Mountains and Fuel in Green Bay and Northern Climates of the U.P., I still stayed outside till everything was capped back up and stowed. The one good thing about the fuel over the propane was at least most of the gas stations have coffee! There were tank farms where we had to pump off, and that was no fun and we had to open the domes for that, but there was something definitely wrong with the people in this video.

[Mr. Ford95]

The Mythbusters tests did it with the best known gas-air mix and then ramped it up with an overload of gas mix that was basically the same as pouring the gasoline straight onto the cellphone, nothing happened until they did a static charge test. Only took a tiny amount of gas vapors to ignite with static. Guess your also supposed to turn your vehicle off when refueling also.... Unless you have a static buildup or you fuel on the same side as your hot exhaust and spill some gas, nothing will happen.

[TCT]

Why on earth would you open the dome lids anyway? This whole video is suspect on the face of that. There is no need to open the dome lids to unload at a gas station.. AND, I've never been to a place where some attendant did anything but stay inside and lean on something. The cell phone thing is an urban myth! It's been tested, a tested and tested again. If you want to believe that a cell phone will blow you up,, then goodie goodie for you. You shouldn't be talking on a cell phone when working anyway.

I don't know why he would do it, I wasn't there. As usual, you are all knowing and have all the answers. I guess all the training videos and classes that I've been to as a fuel transport driver have all been filled with lies and have been a huge waste of time. The safety experts and the petroleum industry must have some ulterior motive for putting this lie out... I'm sure you know more about the issue then they do.

p.s. Why are you so negative all the time? You're always arguing with somebody. You must lead a miserable existence.

[Fozzy]

Why on earth would you open the dome lids anyway? This whole video is suspect on the face of that. There is no need to open the dome lids to unload at a gas station.. AND, I've never been to a place where some attendant did anything but stay inside and lean on something. The cell phone thing is an urban myth! It's been tested, a tested and tested again. If you want to believe that a cell phone will blow you up,, then goodie goodie for you. You shouldn't be talking on a cell phone when working anyway.

I don't know why he would do it, I wasn't there. As usual, you are all knowing and have all the answers. I guess all the training videos and classes that I've been to as a fuel transport driver have all been filled with lies and have been a huge waste of time. The safety experts and the petroleum industry must have some ulterior motive for putting this lie out... I'm sure you know more about the issue then they do.

p.s. Why are you so negative all the time? You're always arguing with somebody. You must lead a miserable existence.

How about this... just go f*ck yourself? Part of this whole issue is about myth and helping people.. there is already enough moronic BS being spread by drivers... why are you adding to it? If you think you need to climb up and open the dome lids to gravity off load in a gas station.. you better go back and read the books again...

[TCT]

How about this... just go f*ck yourself? Part of this whole issue is about myth and helping people.. there is already enough moronic BS being spread by drivers... why are you adding to it? If you think you need to climb up and open the dome lids to gravity off load in a gas station.. you better go back and read the books again...

There ya go again... true to form. I'll bet your family is awfully proud of you. By the way, when did I ever say it was okay to open the dome when you are loading or unloading? Stop making things up, it just makes you look silly.

Carry on Rambo.

[Fozzy]

How about this... just go f*ck yourself? Part of this whole issue is about myth and helping people.. there is already enough moronic BS being spread by drivers... why are you adding to it? If you think you need to climb up and open the dome lids to gravity off load in a gas station.. you better go back and read the books again...

There ya go again... true to form. I'll bet your family is proud of you. By the way, when did I ever say it was okay to open the dome when you are loading or unloading? Stop making things up, it just makes you look silly.

Carry on Rambo.

Sure, My family is proud, they can pay attention to the discussion and of course have a discussion without calling it an argument and then start crying like a four year old when someone has a differing view point or wants to add different issues to the discussion. I'd like to think that you JUST suck your thumbs... Why not jump on the other people in the discussion who also think that the cell phone/explosion issue is bogus?

[TCT]

Why not jump on the other people in the discussion who also think that the cell phone/explosion issue is bogus?

Because they are not an all knowing, arrogant, bully that likes to argue with other posters constantly. Debate is fine, but you seem to have a knack for taking it to the next level.

p.s. Please, for the sake of the board, easy on the F-Bombs Mr. Keyboard Warrior.

Now go play nice. :wink:

[Fozzy]

Why not jump on the other people in the discussion who also think that the cell phone/explosion issue is bogus?

Because they are not an all knowing, arrogant, bully that likes to argue with other posters constantly. Debate is fine, but you seem to have a knack for taking it to the next level.

p.s. Please, for the sake of the board, easy on the F-Bombs Mr. Keyboard Warrior.

Now go play nice. :wink:

Jeeze.. I guess ignorance IS bliss where you live...

[Doctor Who]

Why on earth would you open the dome lids anyway?

It's possible that he had to "break" the compartment and take the remainder to another station. I've seen gas haulers do it from time to time. It is an insane practice!!!

Now for this: If this topic can't stay CIVIL then it gets locked like the others.. Save the insults and back stabbing and put them in the PRIVATE MESSAGE section!!!

One thing is certain, if anybody walks up to my tanker smoking or on a cell phone while I'm dropping fuel they better stop on command or they will get dropped on the spot... guaranteed.

AMEN, it has come close for me several times. It is hard to teach an uninformed public!!!

[jeremyh]

Well I should put my two cents in because I've hauled fuel for over a year now. From what I was taught using cell phones around your trailer while unloading fuel is a big deal because of static electricity. Any little source of ignition could create a spark with the static electricity and you have a big problem. I had to learn from the industry standards set in Canada. There's a regulatory body that sets these standards. Here's a link to the website where you could download the manual that shows the sets of procedures for unloading and loading fuels(http://www.cppi.ca/Driver_Certification_Program.html) I don't think they would show all those signs around gas pumps telling people not to use their cell phones while fueling gas for no reason. Safety first, I'd rather be safe and error on the side of caution.

Here is a sample from the CPPI Manual explaining static electricity and ignition sources.

Prevention of Ignition Sources
• Do not allow open flames, cigarettes or sparks in the vicinity of handling operations or storage areas.
• Bonding/ground cable connections must be clean and made in the prescribed manner, either
connecting, using rack grounding system or grounding cable and clamp to truck brass/aluminum
grounding/bonding pins.
• Permit only explosion-proof electrical appliances, switches, lamps and flashlights in hazardous zones
(i.e. compartments, domes, near vents and fill pipes).
• Inspect battery-operated equipment for defects before each use.
• Truck ignition, CB's, radio equipment, pagers, cell phones, lights and other electrical equipment must
be off during loading.

Static Electricity
Static electricity is a constant and potential source of ignition in loading and unloading operations. This is
because the very movement of petroleum products, such as during loading or unloading, generates an
electrostatic charge. This charge can accumulate in the product itself, sometimes to the point where a spark
will be given off. Combine the spark with an explosive vapour/air mixture, and a fire can easily result.
Vapours from highly volatile products, such as aviation fuels and gasolines, are always found to be within
the explosive range and must be handled with due care and attention necessary to minimize the potential
for static buildup/discharge.