Re: Unexpected safety hazard-- OT?

[jhsgr@juno.com]

On Fri, 30 Jul 1999 21:21:53 -0400 Scott Hull <ScottHull@compuserve.com>
writes:
> >>... The threat mobile phones
> >> pose to gas stations and their users is primarily the result of 
> their
> >> ability to produce sparks that can be generated by the high 
> powered
> >> battery inside the phone.
> 
> >Anything with a switch and a battery can generate a spark when it 
> is
> turned on
> >or off. No consumer product is likely to spend extra money for an 
> on/off
> >switche with sealed contacts. Cell phones and pager are thus only 
> two of
> the
> >endless examples of such consumer products.
> 
> What about cars? It's hard to believe that with all the switches, 
> motors,
> spark plugs, etc. that a car never creates a spark while at a gas 
> station.
> I would say that the battery and starting system of a car would be 
> "high
> powered" when compared to a cell phone.
> 
> SAH


What really gets me going is when I see someone (like an attendant)
smoking a cigarette next to a pump while filling someone's tank! And when
you say something about it to them, they just shrug it off!!!! Talk about
stupidity - but again, how often does it happen to blow up? 

As far as potential for explosion, in most open air situations the
mixture is not rich enough to ignite easily, so I doubt that it would be
a problem with pagers, etc. BUT indoors (as in a garage or shop) is
another matter entirely, I would think.

 

Joseph H. Strubhar

E-mail -- jhsgr@juno.com

Web Address -- http://www.gremcoinc.com

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