6-18-97
Recently, as a motorist was filling a small gas can that was inside the bed of his pickup truck, the gas spontaneously ignited, burning him. An investigation determined that the fire was caused by static-electricity buildup from the plastic bed liner.
This is not uncommon and, in fact, two technical bulletins have been published concerning this problem. One is from Ford Motor Corporation and the other is from Standard Oil Company. The recommendation on both are that you should never fill a gas can in the bed of a truck having a bed liner in it. Place the gas container on the ground to fill it. The Ford Bulletin also states that placing a rubber mat under the bed liner will alleviate the problem; however, the motorist involved in this incident had already done that and the gasoline still ignited. This leaves only one solution for filling portable gas containers--place them on the ground prior to filling.
Chevron USA has reported several instances of metal gas cans exploding while being filled in the backs of pickup trucks at service stations. In a warning published in Chevron's Marketing Bulletin 36-1904, Chevron states that the insulated effect of the plastic liners found in the back of many pickup trucks prevents the static charge, generated by gasoline flowing into a metal can, from grounding. As the charge builds, it can create a static spark between the can and the gas nozzle. Chevron is advising that all cans should be placed on the ground away from vehicles and people when being filled.
An Electrical Engineer who was attending a seminar in Boston a few weeks ago called a fellow worker to alert her father of possible death/injury when fueling a gas can that is sitting in the back of a pickup truck having a bed liner. The engineer stated, 'We own a truck with a dealer-supplied bed liner and have boats, ATMs, generators, chainsaws, and a lawn mower which would mandate fueling a gas can. A flame specialist at this seminar told me that there have been 23 injuries/deaths due to pickup truck owners fueling a gas container that is sitting in the back of a pickup truck without removing it. Apparently, the bed liners do not provide a ground and the fuel generates static electricity that can cause the fumes to ignite. The flame specialist also stated that pressure is being applied to bed liner manufacturers to affix a warning label on their product.'
With so many pickups in use, many of which are equipped with bed liners, it is important to draw some attention to this potential safety hazard and to encourage everyone who owns/drives a pickup truck having a bed liner--to set gas containers on the ground, and away from people and vehicles prior to fueling.
Written by: Mike Chapman, North Carolina Office of State Personnel, Risk Control
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Courtesy of the NSC Newsletter
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