Gasoline:

Gasoline at Home

• Keep gasoline out of children’s sight and reach. Children should never handle gasoline.
• If fire does start while handling gasoline, do not attempt to extinguish the fire or stop the flow of gasoline. Leave the area immediately, and call for help.
• Do not use or store gasoline near possible ignition sources (i.e., electrical devices, oil- or gas-fired appliances, or any other device that contains a pilot flame or a spark).
• Store gasoline outside the home (i.e., in a garage or lawn shed) in a tightly closed metal or plastic container approved by an independent testing laboratory. Never store gasoline in glass containers or non-reusable plastic containers (i.e., milk jugs).
• Store only enough gasoline necessary to power equipment and let machinery cool before refuelling it.
• Never use gasoline inside the home or as a cleaning agent.
• Clean up spills promptly and discard clean-up materials properly.
• Do not smoke when handling gasoline.
• Never use gasoline in place of kerosene.
• Use caution when fuelling automobiles. Do not get in and out of the automobile when fuelling. Although rare, an electrical charge on your body could spark a fire, especially during the dry winter months.
• Only fill portable gasoline containers outdoors. Place the container on the ground before filling and never fill containers inside a vehicle or in the bed of a pick-up truck.
• Follow all manufacturers instructions when using electronic devices (those with batteries or connected to an electrical outlet) near gasoline.

Gasoline at Service Stations

• Turn off your vehicle’s engine when refuelling.
• Keep gasoline and other fuels out of children’s sight and reach. Gasoline is highly toxic in addition to being a fire hazard. NEVER allow a child to pump gas.
• Don’t smoke, light matches or use lighters while refuelling.
• Pay attention to what you’re doing. Pumping gas is the transfer of a hazardous substance; don’t engage in other activities.
• Do not use any electronic device, such as cell phones, computers or portable radios while refueling.

• Use only the refuelling latch on the gasoline dispenser nozzle, if there is one. Do not jam the latch with an object to hold it open.
• To avoid spills, do not top off or overfill your vehicle.
• After pumping gasoline, leave the nozzle in the tank opening for a few seconds to avoid drips when you remove it.
• If a fire starts while you’re refuelling, don’t remove the nozzle from the vehicle or try to stop the flow of gasoline. Leave the area immediately and call for help.
• Don’t get in and out of your vehicle while refuelling. A static electric charge can develop on your body as you slide across the seat, and when you reach for the pump, a spark can ignite gasoline vapour.
• If you must get into the vehicle during refuelling, discharge any static electricity by touching metal on the outside of the vehicle, away from the filling point, before removing the nozzle from your vehicle.
• Use only approved portable containers for transporting or storing gasoline. Make sure the container is in a stable position.
• Never fill a portable container when it is in or on the vehicle. Always place the container on the ground first. Fires caused by static charges have occurred when people filled portable containers in the back of pick-up trucks, particularly those with plastic bed liners. Removing the container will also prevent a dangerous spill of gasoline.
• When filling a portable container, keep the nozzle in direct contact with the container. Fill it only about 95 percent full to leave room for expansion.

Propane

• Handle any propane-powered equipment cautiously and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Cylinder tanks for equipment such as stoves and ovens must be located outside of the home.
• Never store or use propane gas cylinders inside the home.
• Never operate a propane-powered gas grill inside the home.
• Have propane gas equipment inspected periodically by a professional for possible leaks or malfunctioning parts.
• Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions when lighting a pilot.
• If you smell a strong odour of gas, leave the area immediately and call the fire department from outside the home.