The Engine is Beating

What a shock when I heard this news!

I fuel petrol everyday and I did not even think of this kind of incident will happen. It really happens at one of the petrol kiosk in Batang Kali recently. And the poor little boy had his body burned almost 70%. What a sad news.

I guess the fire happened at the moment the pump nozzle was pulled out from the hole of the car petrol tank. The friction generated during the movement of the nozzle will generate some static charge which is high enough to ingnite a fire. What a coincidence! But this is a very rare phenomena to happen.

Have you ever get shock by some small electricity when you touch your car?

Well, I experience this almost few times a week. It happens when I reach back home after working. The moment I close my car door, I immediately got some electricity shock. Although the feeling of shock was minimal but it is enough for an “Ouch!”.

The biggest problem of static charge to us is we couldn’t see it. We do not know whether there are any static charge running at our body or not. When we get shock, thats the time we know there is a static charge exists.

My 2 cents. I hope these will protect ourself from the incident to happen to us.

• Prevent or minimize your usual wear which is made of nylon. This kind of material will easily generate static charge to our body.
• Before you start fueling your car, try to touch something that is grounded around you. This can discharge the static charge from your body. Static accumulates in areas where the charge cannot escape.
• Increase the humidity level inside your car. Static charge will accumulate in environment with low humidity. Prior reaching the petrol station, you can open your car window a little bit to let air flow inside your car. 
• When you exit your car, grip the metal frame of the door or touch the window glass for a couple of seconds before you let your feet touch the ground. This will discharge any electricity.
• Hold a key in your hand and touch the metal door frame when you exit. The key will act as a lightning rod and discharges the static without pain.

I hope it helps.