http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/ Please use this webpage before forwarding ANY warnings of any kind! This is a HOAX. Where it says search just type I typed in "cell phone fires" and the following message came up. Besides this is a site for genealogy. Lorelee According to Shell Oil, allegedly the source of the information, the email is a complete hoax and did not originate from the company. "We're not aware that there has ever been an incident where this has happened," a Shell representative told Reuters in February 2003. A mobile phone industry spokesperson labeled it an "urban legend." The earliest rumors connecting wireless phones with refueling fires have been traced back to a 1999 China Post article alleging that an Indonesian driver was badly burned when "a spark from the static electricity in the mobile [phone] ignited the petrol vapor," blowing up his car. Though never independently confirmed, the tale won credulity among cautious petroleum industry executives, in part because some cellular phone manuals shipped during the 1990s contained warnings against using the products anywhere gasoline vapors might be present. But the danger was, and is, purely theoretical. An investigation completed in 2001 by the Center for the Study of Wireless Electromagnetic Compatibility at the University of Oklahoma found "virtually no evidence to suggest that cell phones pose a hazard at gas stations." Adding to the confusion, more recent research strongly indicates that static electricity from sources other than cell phones can ignite gasoline vapors at the pump and cause vehicular fires, of which there have been many documented cases. Unfortunately, the rumor mill being what it is, this important information has been obfuscated by sketchy email alerts which persist in claiming that some of the fires were caused by "sparks" from mobile phones. Caveat lector. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sherri Hall" <ldrbelties@earthlink.net> To: <SELLERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, September 29, 2003 6:38 PM Subject: [SELLERS] Safety Alert Forwarded from the Army's Safety Office... feel free to pass along. ~Sherri The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents in which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling operations. In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during fueling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the gasoline pump. In the second, an individual suffered severe burns to their face when fumes ignited as they answered a call while refueling their car. And in the third, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, which was in their pocket, rang while they were fueling their car. You should know that: Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes. Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition. Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations, or when fueling lawn mowers, boat! , Etc. Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust, (i.e. solvents, chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc.) To sum it up, here are the: Four Rules for Safe Refueling 1) Turn off engine 2) Don't smoke 3) Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off 4) Don't re-enter your vehicle during fueling 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, they went back to pull the nozzle out and 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 re-entered and the nozzle was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some resulted in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer. 8) Seventeen fires 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<http://www.pei.org/>. 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. ______________________________