MB Petroelum third party fatality

1
Safety Alert
No. 10 Sep. 99
GSMs A Source of Ignition !!!!!

• What happened ?
• A driver was using his GSM while his car was
  being filled with petrol. He moved closer to the
  petrol tank. The vapor that surrounded the car
  ignited BANG!
• A major explosion. Driver and Attendant were
  both severely burnt. The car and the filling
  station were badly damaged.
• This accident did not happen in Oman. But it
  could have!
• How can a GSM cause ignition/explosion ?
• All GSMs work on a high powered battery. Where
  there is electric power sparks can be produced.
  Sparks can ignite flammable vapor clouds like in
  a petrol station or in a oil and gas production
  facility
• A GSM generates electromagnetic radio waves.
  These waves can cause static electric charges
  that in turn can produce sparks.
• Why did the accident happen ?
• Neither the driver nor the Petrol Attendant were
  aware that GSMs do make sparks. THEY DO.
• They assumed that, using GSMs at filling
  stations or near highly flammable liquids and
  gas, was safe. IT IS NOT.
• They were not aware that flammable gases and
  vapors from highly flammable liquids are that
  easily ignited. THEY ARE.
• What can you learn from this accident ?