You shouldn't use your phone while pumping gas primarily because it's a major distraction, leading to accidents like driving off with the nozzle, but the old fear of your phone causing a fire (from static or battery sparks) is largely a myth, with real fire risks coming from static discharge from clothes/car seats when re-entering the vehicle and lack of focus on the pumping process. While a phone could theoretically cause a spark if it had a major internal fault, it's extremely unlikely; the biggest danger is your inattention to the fuel, pump, and surrounding hazards.
Risk of incendive sparking - Mobile phones are not designed and certified for use in explosive atmospheres which exist temporarily around the pump and nozzle during refuelling as well as around the fill and vent pipes during petrol deliveries.
While electrical malfunctions in your phone could cause spontaneous combustion, it is static electricity that is more likely to ignite and cause a fire when combined with petrol gases.
While cell phones haven't been shown to ignite fires at gas stations, static electricity has. When you gas up your car, you're likely careful not to spill a single drop (gas is expensive!). Still, gas vapors hang out around the pump nozzle, even when it's inserted in your gas tank.
It's actually Illegal to sit in your car with pump in or leave the pump in your car while unattended! & if the gas spill is really big Kwik trip can report it to the police! Jasmine Renae Dane county sheriff was doing this at kwik trip the other day.
Don't use your mobile phone. If you drop your mobile phone, a spark can be produced when the batteries are knocked loose. This could be hazardous because of the flammable vapours produced by petrol products.
The primary reason, of course, is safety: because a malfunctioning device could cause a spark that could ignite flammable gas, commercially available smartphones are banned from many sites, including oil wells and refineries.
After a fatal oilfield accident or explosion, a decedent's survivors usually receive workers' compensation death benefits. These benefits are generally paid to the surviving spouse, minor children, and children under 25 who are enrolled in an accredited college or university.
Shipping companies face harsh international bans on smoking on their vessels, and fire, health, and safety regulations forbid indoor smoking, while smoking on deck is banned as well. Smoking outdoors is banned on oil platforms.
For personal use, video calls may be possible on rigs with Internet connection, but similar to phone calls, using video apps like Skype or FaceTime is often limited to living quarters for safety reasons.
The simple reason is the fear of a spark from the phone igniting petrol vapours and creating a fire or explosion. Static electricity, which can be generated from a phone or other sources, can create a spark too and is therefore another concern.
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Don't wear headphones or be looking down at your phone. - Keep your car locked especially if you will be going inside.
Leave Your Phone in the Car
As mentioned above, you want to avoid creating any electricity while pumping gas, which is exactly what can happen when using your phone as your pump gas. Another to reason leave your phone in the car is to help you focus on paying attention to your surroundings.
Oil riggers face one of the highest occupational fatality rates in the U.S., significantly above the average for private industry, with rates often seven times higher, driven by transportation incidents (helicopters, vehicles), falls from heights (derricks), contact with equipment, and explosions, though safety improvements are reducing overall risks. For instance, BLS data showed the oil and gas extraction industry's fatal injury rate at 14.2 per 100,000 workers in 2022, compared to 3.7 for all private industry.
Women can and do work on offshore oil rigs across a range of roles — and the industry is becoming more inclusive every year. Here's what to know: Jobs available: Medic, chef, safety officer, engineer, geologist, roustabout, crane operator, rope access tech, electrician, and more.
Severe seasickness: Winter often brings prolonged periods of rough seas, leading to severe seasickness among offshore workers. Even seasoned seamen can suffer from chronic nausea and vomiting in such conditions, impacting their ability to perform duties effectively.
No, not just anyone can work on an oil rig; you need to meet specific requirements like being over 18, passing physical and safety training (like BOSIET/MIST), having a high school diploma/GED, and potentially other credentials like a TWIC card for U.S. work, but yes, there are entry-level roles like Roustabout that don't require prior experience, focusing more on physical fitness and a willingness to work long shifts. Highly skilled roles, however, demand technical degrees or extensive experience, but even with no experience, starting on land rigs or in support roles (like food service) is a common path.
Logging workers consistently rank as the most dangerous profession by fatality rate, followed by fishing and hunting workers and roofers, primarily due to falls, being struck by objects, heavy equipment, and remote working conditions, with figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showing logging at nearly 100 deaths per 100,000 workers annually.
Workers aboard these offshore platforms are exposed to harsh conditions, including unpredictable weather, heavy machinery, and the risk of falls. A fall from an oil rig can result in severe injuries or even death.