Fire Filling Portable Gas

• In incidents reported to NIOSH in the US, fires spontaneously ignited when workers or others attempted to fill portable gasoline containers (gas cans) in the backs of pickup trucks equipped with plastic bed liners or in cars with carpeted surfaces. Serious skin burns and other injuries resulted.

• These fires result from the buildup of static electricity. The insulating effect of the bed liner or carpet prevents the static charged generated by gasoline flowing into the container or other sources from grounding. The discharge of this buildup to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle may cause a spark and ignite the gasoline.

• Both ungrounded metal (most hazardous) and plastic gas containers have been involved in these incidents, a NIOSH Hazard ID said. 

Tips On Somoke & Monoxide

Health Problems

The quality of the air in your home canaffect your family’s comfort and health. The temperature and humidity should becontrolled. Air should be clean and free of harmful chemicals and smoke. Poorair quality can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, burning eyes, headache, andsleepiness. People who have asthma, allergies or lung disease are affected morethan others.

Carbon monoxide from faulty home heatingsystems cause about 200 deaths a year in the United States.  Carbonmonoxide can also come from using portable generators inappropriately.  Ifyou can not vent the exhaust from your portable generator safely, do not use it!