Regarding the use of cell phones at the gas pumps;

It's the law. Period.  That's pretty clear. Not 'intrinsically safe for use
in an explosive environment'.  Not as clear to the layman, but understood by
a safety-concious person.

As far as I'm concerned, no anecdotal 'proof' to the contrary is
required...........

It's too bad 'common sense' isn't as 'common' as it implies.

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Vickers" <jeff@VICKERSDESIGN.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 1:52 PM
Subject: Re: vanagon Digest - 13 May 2008 to 14 May 2008 - Special issue
(#2008-520)

> Mythbusters may not always get it exactly right but they sure try like
> hell to eliminate all the possible related scenarios.
>
> In that episode with the cell phone, they built a 3x3x3 plexi box, put
> a cell phone in it and FILLED the box with an amount of gasoline vapor
> the equivalent of roughly 20 times what you'd experience standing at
> the pump. They called the phone a half dozen times and nothing
> happened. They also tried 3 or 4 different phones. Nothing.
>
> There has never been a proven/documented of a cell phone causing a gas
> station fire. In a worst-case, million to one scenario I suppose a
> cell phone battery could short while you are holding the phone in your
> hand while pumping gas but, jeez... that's pretty unlikely.
>
> It reminds me of the same cell phone nonsense that we endure on planes
> and in hospitals. There is zero evidence proving that cell phones
> affect either environments, yet the laws exist and the signs go up
> telling you not to do it. I know a pilot that works for United and he
> laughs whenever I bring this up. He used to be a mechanic before he
> became a pilot and he said that the airline engineers know that cell
> phones don't cause problems but they are reluctant to put that out to
> the public because the flight crews don't want to deal with a whole
> plane full of people talking on cell phones and making their jobs even
> more miserable than they are.
>
> Static electricity? Yes. Cell phones? No.
>
> Don't even get me started about the stupid "hands-free" cell phone law
> coming up in July...
>
> jeff / san anselmo
> On May 14, 2008, at 8:38 AM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
>
>>
>> Date:    Wed, 14 May 2008 09:12:44 -0400
>> From:    Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
>> Subject: Re: Safety Tips (now for pumping gas!)
>>
>> Mythbusters is not the be-all, end-all of every fact in the world.
>> The fact
>> is that re-entering your vehicle after starting to pump gas and then
>> putting
>> you hand back onto the gas nozzle is what causes static-initiated
>> gas pump
>> fires.  That nice, Vanagon velour seat upholstery gives you static
>> charge,
>> then the first piece of metal that you touch gets a zap.  If that's
>> the gas
>> pump handle, the built-up concentration of flammable fuel vapors
>> WILL ignite
>> with this spark.
>>  Also, cell phones may not be the source of static electricity, but
>> they
>> are an electrical device.  The battery and any switches on it can
>> create a
>> spark.  How many times have you dropped a phone and had the battery
>> pop out?
>> Any electrical device that is "intrinsically safe for use in an
>> explosive
>> environment' will be clearly labelled as such, by law.
>>  When refueling KC-135's in the U.S. Air Force, we had to ground
>> both the
>> aircraft and the refueling vehicle or pit cart to an approved,
>> tested earth
>> ground spot, the aircraft and the refueling unit to each other, and
>> we had
>> to each physically touch an earth ground spot before beginning any
>> transfer
>> of fuel. We also had to use intercom headsets and mobile 2-way
>> radios that
>> were labelled as "intrinsically safe for use in an explosive
>> environment."
>> All unnecessary personnel were not allowed in the refuel area, and
>> orange
>> traffic cones were placed at the four outer points, to announce the
>> location
>> of this area to outsiders.
>>  A non-chalant, unsafe, ignorant or uncaring attitude may cause you
>> or a
>> loved one some unnecessary grief.  The local and/or state fire
>> marshall has
>> the final say over whether you can use any electrical equipment
>> while at a
>> gas pump.  You can be cited, if observed breaking this important law.
>>
>> Mike B.
>