couldn't believe it, a man smoking while filling up with gas

[dirtlooter]

We pulled up to the gas pumps to fill up and as I waited for my turn, I realized that the young man was holding the pump handle with one hand and a smoking cigarette in the other. I rolled my window down and told him that smoking while pumping wasn't very smart in this heat. He looked at me like I was crazy as I told him that the explosive nature of gasoline is in it's vapors. I asked him if he had ever seen someone that had been burned by a gasoline fire and he responded with they were just stupid. I also mentioned the signs that very clearly said NO SMOKING WITHIN 50 FEET. He wouldn't stop either one and fortunately finished and left. So, was he just stupid or what? I just couldn't believe any one would do that, especially in this heat.

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

Seen it.

About every two months we get a news story of someone who was on oxygen and just had to have a cigarette. Sometimes they only kill themselves.

 

[Duckshot]

I recall sitting stuck in traffic on the way to the racetrack in Indianapolis in 1987. We were stopped and a cop walked by our passenger side with a red gas can in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Not at all as dangerous as it looks, but it sure sets a bad example for the kids, and you might, just maybe, go up like a Buhdist protesting the war.

 

[Argentium]

The "Darwin" award was conceived for just such a moron ! Survival of the species will hopefully not include this reprobate !!

 

[Xraywolf]

Stupid, but not as dangerous as it would seem.
Gasoline [liquid or fumes] generally need a spark or open flame to ignite, a lit ciggy is neither, just a heat source - So as long as he didn't actually light it up, no explosion was imminent.

 

[AlienLifeForm]

It's not a great idea, but not as dangerous as it seems.

 

[callicles]

When I was a kid, nearly everyone in society smoked: doctors, lawyers, teachers, cops, ditch diggers, preachers.....

.... when people pumped gas, they were smoking too..... no explosions.... lotta emphysema...lotta lung cancer....no explosions

 

[jeff of pa]

It's not a great idea, but not as dangerous as it seems.

however static can ignite the fumes.



first thing you should do is touch the side of your car before getting ready to pump gas.

I always slide my hand along the car as I walk back to the gas cap
out of habit. Gotta Keep Balance after that 12 pack of Yuengling

 

[The_Piratess]

Regardless either way that's NOT any BBQ that I want go to and especially be a part of!!!
Good thing I don't like or wear sweaters either Lol!

 

[jeff of pa]

though I'd worry more about someone with a Phone in their hand

 

[The_Piratess]

though I'd worry more about someone with a Phone in their hand

Now I'm definitely worried!!!

 

[jeff of pa]

Now I'm definitely worried!!!

there sure are allot of people with cell phones glued to their ears,
or surfing the net or texting away .

probably the biggest addiction in the country

 

[The_Piratess]

there sure are allot of people with cell phones glued to their ears,
or surfing the net or texting away .

probably the biggest addiction in the country

It sure is that! Plus the cellphones keep getting bigger and some are almost the size of tablets! I hate them and only use them when I absolutely have to. Maybe that's what's wrong with a lot of people today and especially the youth? Their brains are burnt from having cellphones glued to their heads!

 

[laradactyl]

Back in the 60's I worked at gas stations during the school year. We all smoked while pumping gas, cleaned greasy parts in a bucket/pan of gasoline, even filled our Zippo with gasoline. And often demonstrated that you could easily put a cigarette out in a bucket of gasoline.

No fires or explosions. My only consequence turned out to be all about smoking but had nothing to do with gasoline. In November of 2013 I started radiation and chemo for throat cancer. Now almost 4 years with no evidence of disease. Yes smoking is bad for you, but in my experience the addition of gasoline adds nothing to the risk.

No cell phones existed but we did have a pay phone on the wall.

 

[Joe hunter]

Don't try any cigarette tricks with gunpowder it's a much different outcome

 

[Honest Samuel]

He was stupid not to obey the signs. People do it all the time, and I am sure that they cause fire.

 

[hvacker]

Gas pumps aren't the only places stupid exists.
I was at a casino doing some control work. A bus pulled up with people from a nursing home.
One old guy with a walker and oxygen tank (before portables) made his way to a slot machine.
That's when he lit up a cigarette and began dropping quarters. What a combination. Pure oxygen and a burning ember.
He was luckier that day with his potential blast then with the one arm bandit. Maybe he just didn't care.

 

[Nitric]

Like other posts said....not as dangerous as it's hyped up to be. What is way more dangerous is lighting the cigarette while pumping gas. Even then with todays pumps most are made different than years ago.

I worked at Natural gas compressor, and transmission stations for a short time out of High School, and the older INSPECTORS smoked cigars while natural gas is leaking out everywhere. No smoking signs everywhere, but we are welding and grinding pipe? What's the difference?

I worked at car gas stations where we used bud torches to change the vinyl decals on the pumps, also used turbo heaters to warm the metal in the winter time before applying new decals. It made me nervous for sure! But that's how we were told to do it at that time.

I smoke when filling the lawn mower or any other equipment. Not a big deal. The lighter and the white or blue flame is what you don't want around fumes. Probably safe not to smoke at gas stations though....Which I don't do. But it would take a mix of "Just the right things" for it to "just ignite". Probably a better chance of hitting the lotto.

 

[boogeyman]

there sure are allot of people with cell phones glued to their ears,
or surfing the net or texting away .

probably the biggest addiction in the country

Funny you said that Jeff! Not even 10 minutes ago we were talking about the upcoming eclipse, and my friend says "I wonder how many thousands are going to be texting away clickity click click while it happens and miss the whole shebang?" Almost dropped my coffee!

 

[against the wind]

It's amazing how people tend to ignore posted signs. These signs are a combination of the law and safety precautions. With most gas stations across America having cameras installed due to theft,, I wonder if the gas station owners even bother to review the tapes.