SHELL HELPS WITH

GASOLINE SAFETY

Accidents can
happen.

Accidents
have happened.

We dont want
accidents to
happen to you.

We care about our customers

and their safety.
THE
BASICS

THE SAFETY BASICS by Shell Health, Safety and Environment inspec-

tions at regular intervals.

WWith the popularity of self-serve gasoline sites, we

may be getting just a bit casual about refueling our
vehicles. We may have forgotten how important
We also need your help and co-operation if we
are to prevent accidents, which might involve
the job of refueling is. We forget that gasoline is other customers, our neighbours, our staff or
a potentially dangerous product if not handled you. Your part in accident prevention involves
properly: Fueling our vehi- following a few simple rules
cles requires care and atten- whenever youre close to a
tion. gasoline pump or other
source of fuel. Our Sales
At Shell, we know the Associates are trained to
importance of the fuel that ensure your safety at all
keeps your vehicle run- times please remember
ning. None of us could this if they need to caution
manage without it. But you about one of the fol-
gasoline can be extremely lowing fuel safety rules.
hazardous unless properly
and safely handled. The first three rules are
Accidents can happen. also THE LAW:
Accidents have happened.
We dont want accidents to Safety rules are essential when youre close to the pumps. DONT smoke within 7.5
happen to you. metres (25 feet) of a gaso-
line pump (3 metres or 10 feet in Ontario).
Shell provides safety training for its Retailers and
Sales Associates, and our sites are designed with DONT leave your vehicle running when
safety in mind. Our safety procedures are verified refueling.

2 Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety

 THE
BASICS

DONT jam the pump nozzle open when refuel-

ing at a self-serve site. COMMON GASOLINE SAFETY SYMBOLS
DONT allow children to play around pump
islands or to hold or activate the pump nozzle.

DONT be distracted from filling your vehicle

by using a cell phone. A fill-up takes only a
few minutes and requires your full attention. Remove Smoking Do not
In addition, cell phones are electrical devices, all ignition is strictly leave engine
so theyre a potential ignition source for any fumes. sources prohibited running

And:

ALWAYS use only approved containers to carry

or store fuel (CSA- or ULC-labeled).

ALWAYS treat all fuels with respect. Store them Do not fill portable Do not Do not leave
in well-ventilated places with no nearby ignition container in or overfill your vehicle
on a vehicule. containers. unattended
sources. Handle them with great care and use
them only as motor fuel.

ALWAYS extinguish propane pilot lights in recre-

ational vehicles, campers, motorhomes and other
vehicles before refueling the vehicle.
Do not Gasoline Gasoline is
ALWAYS dismount from your motorbike before operate a is highly a poisonous
fueling. Fuel spilled onto the hot exhaust or cell phone. flammable substance
engine could cause a fire, injuring you and others.

Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety 3

ITS THE
L AW. . .

S O M E FA C T S A B O U T G A S O L I N E

WWe all know that gasoline is highly flammable.But its

not actually the liquid that burns. Even at a tempera-
ture as low as -45C., gasoline gives off vapour and Any ignition source from a match to the seemingly
its the vapour that ignites. The vapour is also heav- innocent static charge you may pick up when moving
ier than air, so it lingers at ground level and in inside your vehicle can be dangerous when refueling.

enclosed spaces, and it flows in pools and gaseous

streams wherever a breeze takes it. youre inside your vehicle, but if you leave it and
are still carrying the charge, and if you touch the
All it takes to create a violent explosion is fuel pump nozzle, its possible for the resulting spark to
vapours, enough oxygen, and a source of ignition be dangerous.
like a spark from a cigarette, a hot exhaust pipe,
faulty wiring, or a wisp of vapour reaching the Even aside from its explosive potential, gasoline can
open flame of a pilot light or a match. be hazardous stuff. Spilled on the skin, it dries up nat-
ural oils and fats. The skin dries and cracks, and sec-
Even something as seemingly innocuous as the ondary infections may follow. Gasoline vapours can
spark from a static electricity discharge can cause cause dizziness, vomiting, unconsciousness, even
gasoline vapours to explode if it happens near death, if inhaled in strong enough concentrations.
enough to their source. Remember that when you
move around in your vehicle, you can build up a And even after it dries, its still flammable when
static electricity charge in your body. absorbed into clothing or shoes, or on the skin.

Research shows that the energy content of the All this means that gasoline is extremely dangerous
resulting static electricity charge in your body is if handled incorrectly. But, with care, respect
many times the spark energy required to ignite and common sense, gasoline can be used
gasoline vapours. Nothing will happen when safely and beneficially.

4 Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety

 ITS THE
L AW. . .

I T S T H E L AW. . . If you want to purchase gasoline to take away from

the station in a portable container, the container

A
At all our Shell sites, we are concerned about
sources of ignition anywhere near our gasoline
pumps or other fueling locations. In fact, fire regu-
must have a ULC or CSA label on it.These contain-
ers are usually made of tough, corrosion-resistant
red plastic with a detachable spout. Most Shell
retail sites sell these containers if you need one.
lations across the country (based on the National
Fire Code) make it ILLEGAL . . . Anything else just isnt safe: Gasoline eats through
many plastics, including the kind used in pop bot-
tles. And the risk of breakage and spillage with
To smoke within 7.5 metres glass containers is just too great.
(25 feet) of a gasoline pump,
including inside a vehicle (3
metres or 10 feet in Ontario); Shell is committed to ensuring that these laws are
obeyed, because they exist for your safety and for
the safety of our other customers, our neighbours
To refuel a vehicle with the en- and our staff. That commitment applies to all our
gine running; Retailers and Sales Associates. We dont allow them
to break the law, and we know youll understand
why we are so careful. We need your co-operation
To purchase (or sell) gasoline if we are to keep our retail sites safe.
or diesel fuel and take it away
from the station in anything but
an approved container; Please remember:
We will not under any circumstances acti-
vate our fuel pumps if you are smoking or
To jam the pump nozzle open
while your vehicle engine is running. We
when refueling at a self-serve
will not break the law.
site.

Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety 5

I T S N O T O N LY
T H E L AW. . .

ITS NOT O N LY THE L AW. . . Never jam the pump nozzle open with anything.
ITS GOOD COMMON SENSE!

O Other requests we make of our customers, particular-

ly at self-serve sites, are matters of common sense.
Theyre precautions, and theyre intended to ensure

everyones safety. A simple gasoline splash or spill
could lead to an explosion, fire, and possible serious
injury. We want to keep you and your family safe!

Even some things that are not necessarily illegal are Never operate a cell phone near the pumps.
still unwise and unsafe. Our Sales Associates
may advise you for your own good, so please
cooperate with them.
Please . . .
Ease up on the nozzle when youre filling the
top half of your tank, to avoid possible spills.

Never jam open the nozzle of a self-serve

pump. It isnt made to work that way, because the Do not charge a vehicles battery at the pump island.

law requires us to install nozzles that shut off auto-

to your car seat and build up a static charge, you
matically when the tank is almost full. If its
could create a dangerous static spark when you
jammed open, it may not shut off automatically
return and touch the pump nozzle.
and gasoline can be spilled. Also, remember the
danger of static electricity. For your safety, there Never operate a cell phone while you are refu-
are no hold-open clips on our self-service pump eling your vehicle. Cell phones are electrical
nozzles. If you jam the pump nozzle open, return devices, so theyre a potential ignition source for

6 Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety

 ... ITS GOOD
COMMON SENSE

Children should not play around, or operate, the pumps. Never let children use the pumps. Children
have been splashed with fuel while attempting
to position the nozzle in the gas tank which
will make them dangerously flammable. As well,
childrens heads are close to the gas tank where
they can easily get gasoline vapours in their eyes,
or inhale fumes that can make them sick. Shells
policy is that people operating gas pumps
should be old enough to be responsible:We take
the minimum age allowed for driving learners
Do not fill your tank from the wrong side. permits as a reasonable guideline.

Watch out for children around the pump

CAUTION island, and dont let your own children wander
there. They may accidentally cause problems for
other motorists, or could be hit by a vehicle.
Pump islands are busy places we dont want
your children to get hurt.

Drive slowly around gasoline pumps. People

Drive slowly around the pumps - this can be a very busy area.
are fueling, entering and exiting vehicles, paying
for fuel, purchasing snacks, using washrooms.
any fumes. But more importantly, cell phones Other vehicles are entering and exiting the site.
pose a distraction from the important business A retail site can be a busy place with both vehic-
of refueling. ular and pedestrian traffic, so extra caution is
essential.
Dont boost your vehicle battery at the pump
island. Theres too much danger of an ignition
spark being created.

Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety 7

USE GOOD
COMMON SENSE

Make sure your vehicle is properly

positioned with the gasoline tank cap on the
pump side of the car. Dont stretch the fueling Always fill CSA- or ULC-approved containers on the ground.
hose across the car to the other side.

If you are filling a truck, dont use the inner

pumps at a self-serve. A truck obstructs the Sales

Associates view of the pump islands and of
other fueling vehicles.

Use a proper gas tank cap. A cap that doesnt

fit can lead to spillage, which can result in a con-
siderable fire hazard in your vehicle. NEVER use a
rag instead of a cap this would turn your car into
a potential Molotov cocktail. Shell staff are trained in the proper spill cleanup procedures.

Never fill gardening equipment, such as weed

shut itself off. Ease up at the halfway point, and
trimmers and lawn mowers, directly from the
never fill the container more than 95% full
pump. Instead, fill an approved container (see
to allow for expansion.
Its the law, page 5), then fill your garden equip-
ment from the container. Report all gasoline spills at a Shell site even
small ones to a Sales Associate, who will take
Always fill containers on the concrete or
appropriate clean-up action.
asphalt ground not in the back of a pickup
truck or in the trunk or passenger compartment of Above all: Dont take chances with fuels of
a car. This will allow any static electricity accumu- any kind. Dont spill them, dont light matches
lated in the fuel to dissipate safely. Hold the nozzle around them, dont misuse them as solvents,
fully into the container with the metal of the noz- dont do anything that puts your safety or the
zle touching the plastic, and let it automatically safety of others at risk.

8 Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety

 FUEL SAFETY
AT H O M E

F U E L S A F E T Y AT H O M E If you spill gasoline:

W
We hope youll treat gasoline with the same
respect at home as you do at the pump.

Store gasoline only in a well-ventilated area

On your clothing: Avoid open flames. As soon
as you can, thoroughly wet the gasoline-
soaked clothing and then remove the clothing
slowly (to avoid ignition by static electricity).
away from heat or anything that has potential Take a shower, bath-
ignition sources. NEVER keep it in the basement. ing contaminated
Gasoline vapours are heavier than air. They
gather in low spots, and the danger of ignition
skin with warm (not
hot) water and soap.
from a furnace or hot water tank pilot light is Change into clean
particularly serious. clothes. The soiled
clothing should be
Never store empty a gasoline container in
aired OUTSIDE for 24
any heated building. Even though it is empty,
hours, then washed
warmed vapours can escape and ignite.
in lots of soapy, luke-
Keep gasoline tightly closed in an approved warm water.
container and handle it carefully at all times. Gasoline-soiled clothing should
first be hung outside to air. In your eyes:
Refuel gasoline lawnmowers and weed Flush with water
trimmers and any other gasoline-powered for 15 minutes and seek immediate medical
equipment, like chain saws outdoors, and only attention.
when the engine and attachments are cool. Use a
In an enclosed area: Ventilate at once, and
funnel to avoid spills.
wash away with soapy water if the spill is small.
Use gasoline only as a motor fuel. NEVER use If its a large spill, leave the area and call the fire
it as a cleaning fluid, charcoal briquette lighter or department immediately.
skin cleaner.

Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety 9

SAFETY
TRAINING

HANDLING OTHER ACCIDENTS

I N V O LV I N G G A S O L I N E

Only trained staff or firefighters should fight

a gasoline fire. NEVER EVER attempt to fight a
gasoline fire with water. Its impossible and
extremely dangerous.

If gasoline is swallowed it can kill. NEVER

try to siphon gasoline by mouth. If it is swal-
lowed, seek medical attention at once. NEVER try
to induce vomiting. If vomiting takes place, the
gasoline could enter the lungs and cause suf-
focation a greater danger than poisoning by
ingestion. Gasoline in the lungs can also cause
chemical pneumonia, which can be fatal.

Shell is proud of the excellent safety record achieved by its site staff.

WE TRAIN OUR PEOPLE ly due to our attention to training and awareness

IN FUEL SAFETY about fuel product hazards. We expect our Sales
Associates and Retailers to immediately address

SShell is concerned with safety. Therefore, safety

training for our Retailers and their Sales Associates
is a primary focus. Emergency preparedness train-
any unsafe conditions at our sites, and we appreci-
ate it when our customers let us know about any
of their safety concerns.
ing takes place four times a year at all of our sites.
At Shell, safety is and always will be of paramount
We believe that our excellent safety record is main- importance in everything we do.

10 Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety

 USEFUL
RESOURCES

SOME USEFUL RESOURCES:

Shell Canada Web site:
www.shell.ca (bilingual)

Underwriters Laboratory of Canada (ULC): Make sure that your vehicle is properly positioned at the pump.
www.ulc.ca (English only)

Canadian Standards Association:

www.csa.ca (bilingual)

American Petroleum Institute - Consumer

Information (API):
www.api.org (English only)
Always dismount from your motorcycle when refueling.

Petroleum Communication Foundation:

www.pcf.ab.ca (English only)
Transport Canada:
www.tc.gc.ca (bilingual)

Always place CSA containers on the ground when filling.

Shell Helps with Gasoline Safety 11

 At Shell,

safety is, and

For further information,

always will be, please contact the Shell Helps

Customer Service desk at

of paramount 1-800-661-1600

importance in

everything

we do.

3275 (07/02)