>
> I recently saw a spot on a TV show that discussed the dangers of a static
> electricity explosion if you fill an improperly grounded gas can.
>
> I recall that a year or two ago there was an explosion at the pumps at Willow
> Springs and they now have very strict procedures.
Areas of very low humidity are more prone to this happening than others.
> But with Self Service race gas at Sears Point and no apparent safety
> precautions at other tracks, what should we be looking for and what should we
> avoid doing.?
The humidity at Sears Point is usually high enough for this not to be a
problem. At Laguna Seca, buy your gas in the morning while it's still
foggy. ;=)
> Are plastic cans dangerous? Does static electircity come from the wheels of a
> wagon ? Should the can always be on the ground when being filled?
The biggest danger isn't really the gas can, it's what the can sits on.
Some tracks have outlawed filling jugs sitting in a pickup truck bed
liner. The bed liner holds a huge amount of static electricity. A gas
can sitting on the ground, or on a metal pit cart should be perfectly
safe.
When airplanes refuel, the first thing they do is connect a ground strap
to the plane, then they open the tank and insert the hose. If you
really wanted to be anal retentive about this, you could put a ground
strap on your metal pit cart and clamp it onto the frame of the pump
before you open the jug. I use a hand truck with a metal plate that
sits on the ground under the jug. If you use a wagon, you probably
should take the jug out of the wagon and put it on the ground.
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