mobile phone/media watch- explosion

The transcript is online at: Media Watch

Cheers,
Pete

Several months ago I was told (very abruptly) to switch off my phone (while I was inside the station paying the bill mind you) as its a safety hazzard. I pointed out that how come all the light fittings, refrigeration and other electricals such as computer are not Explosion Proofed items and if there was a build up of fumes in the station proper then he'd (the idot proofed Manager) would not have been there long ago.

Now when outside filling up with petrol what about stray sparks from spark plugs lights etc etc etc not to mention the odd mobile phone being answered.

Urban Myth?? i believe so!

I know what a stray ignition spark can do to a vehicle...just ask my other half she was driving it at the time...insurance co wrote it off! Wow! am I cute
Richard

personaly, why take the risk? Static electricity is unpredictable, that is why the fuel tankers connect a "ground" lead before they drop the fuel down the hose. Every wondered why the sign asks you to turn off radio's and phones when entering a blasting area? Same deal with racing car refuelers, and they occasionally get it wrong too! Perhaps the reason they quote 'phones never causing fires' is because they couldn't proove the phone existed in amoungst the charred corpse still smouldering on the tarmac?

The reason they ask you turn off your radio etc has nothing to do with static. A radio frequency could likely detonate a non shunted electric primer rigged on a remote firing device.
The firey interviewed said there were never any fires.