HID 2
Description of HAZARD |
In recent incidents reported to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
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. Similar incidents in the last few years
have resulted in warning bulletins from several private and government organizations.
These fires result from the buildup of static electricity. The insulating effect of the bed liner or
carpet prevents the static charge 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.
Fire Hazard: Filling gas can in pickup truck with plastic bed liner.
Safe Practice: Always place gas can on ground before refueling.
Touch can with gas dispenser nozzle before removing can lid.
Keep gas dispenser nozzle in contact with can inlet when filling.
Recommendations For Prevention |
Construction workers and others in small businesses who often work with gasoline-powered equipment commonly use portable gasoline containers. Homeowners use gasoline cans for their lawnmowers and other equipment.
Additional measures for prevention include the following:
For More Information |
To obtain more free information about this hazard or for information about other occupational health and safety issues:
- call NIOSH at 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674), or |
Acknowledgments |
The principal contributors to this publication are: Jerome P. Flesch, Elaine Mann, G. Kent Hatfield, Heinz Ahlers, Richard Carlson, and Rosmarie T. Hagedorn, NIOSH; Richard Yallits, City of Winnipeg, Canada Fire Department; William Rowe, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
July 1998 | DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-111 |
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