Opinion

Filling mower cans

You may have seen me at a service station near you. It's always a Saturday morning, and I go to the back of the car, lift out an old plastic crate (dare I say milk crate?) holding three Victa fuel cans, plonk the crate on the ground and set about filling them. I carry three at once because I need both two-stroke and four-stroke fuel and I like to minimise my trips to servos.

You won't see me do this again because I discovered yesterday that not putting the mower can on the ground while filling it can ignite the petrol, which would put paid to my mowing plans for the day. I came across this after I read that a woman caused a fire that destroyed her car at the weekend when she held a can off the ground while she filled it with petrol. She hadn't taken any notice, the article reported, of the safety sign warning her to put the petrol container on the ground.

I've discovered, in an interview with Service Station Association chief Ron Bowden, that if the mower can is not earthed to ground static electricity on the can may spark to the petrol nozzle, and whooomp. Something else I didn't know is that it is important for the same reason that we keep our hand on the nozzle handle when filling our car. The reason, Mr Bowden explains, is that the fuel-pumping process is designed to drain static electricity from the car and the person to the nozzle to the bowser to earth to prevent sparks.

Nonsense? That's my initial reaction to most warnings of this nature, but I know that often on hot windy days a spark flies between my fingers and the car as I touch it.

I've never seen a sign warning us to keep our hand on the nozzle handle, and I've never seen a sign warning me to put the mower cans on the ground. Or, if I have seen such signs I've never read them. Do sensible people read warning signs? Do they need to?

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 15/09/2009 5:38:00 PM | Comments (21)

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I have seen warning signs at servo's and i have read them previously, I have seen the sign about approved canisters etc, and in the print it says the can must be filled on the ground. Not that i have listened to the sign. Also signs saying mobile phones must be turned off at the station, i leave my phone on and it is generally in my pocket while filling. Other signs are regarding being 16 years old to fill the car. I doubt anyone listens to that one either. I can honestly say i have never seen a sign regarding keeping hands on the nozzel, but i guess you have to as the handle doesn;t stayu clicked on like they used to and you have to hole the lever for the far to continue to fill.

Posted by Nafe, 16/09/2009 10:21:12 AM, on The Herald

I've never listened to a sign. I do read them occasionally though.

Posted by moron, 16/09/2009 10:33:36 AM, on The Herald

people don't read signs in China, I can tell you that much. Stop signs usually mean just that,.. STOP...they are more of a guideline here. I could imagine that, the use an approved cannister would also be regarded as merely a guideline as well. All that aside, I can't remember ever seeing a sign that said keep your hands on the nozzle while filling up...servo's are never my favourite place, get in, get the petrol, get out. I never paid that much attention to signs either... they're more of a guideline really

Posted by suzhousid, 16/09/2009 12:06:27 PM, on The Herald

Road rules are not even a nuisance in many Asian cities, as you know, suzhousid. The driving in Bangkok was a real shock to me, and Rome was not much better. Are there lawnmowers in China, Suz? For that matter, is there lawn?

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 16/09/2009 12:13:46 PM

"Sign Sign everywhere a sign Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind. Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign." I think we become numb to signs even though they are obviously there for our well being. Usually a sign exists because someone can get or got hurt. But as we hear from young people "what would we know" if we are all collectively warning them by a sign or attempting to advise. But ignoring good advice (by not even reading and comprehending) is not necessarily the domain of teens.

Posted by signs, 16/09/2009 12:24:18 PM, on The Herald

Signs, you are showing your age with those lyrics. But really they are only there to stop you sueing someone if you blow yourself up. If it is so dangerous bring back informed service station attendants who actually give service!

Posted by Buell, 16/09/2009 12:29:59 PM, on The Herald

Jeff, there are not a lot of lawnmowers here, or so it seems, I have often seen the grass grow to a length that most home proud 'aussies' would find unacceptable, but, also bear in mind that most of us live in apartment blocks, however, many of the blocks (the newer ones) have parkland and the like. A lot of the city and apartment parks are quite pretty and well maintained (apart from the lawns?),.. the grass is different here, it doesn't grow as quickly. The parks and other areas that have grass do get cut, but not manicured, and yes, you are right, there are not a lot of grassed areas in China...(unless of course you go out to Inner Mongolia). The Uni that I am at has a playing field/pitch with running track, it was being mowed last week by one bloke with a push mower... I figured it kept him busy for quite some time...eventually they will come around to realizing that, in that situation perhaps a ride - on mower might do the job better and quicker..... but, that's China for you.... very amusing some of the time, interesting and never boring all of the time

Posted by suzhousid, 16/09/2009 12:53:42 PM, on The Herald

Its all OH&S and litigation BS. Go into any work place especially manufacturing or mining and you will be bombarded to the point of neglect at the amount of warning,danger and info signs on sight.Its total saturation were no human brain can absorb all the information and warnings so we just ignore or neglect.Its the same for any roadworks,40klm,slow, speeds will be inforced,little picture of a man with a shovel for the kiddies,the electronic solar powered bill board etc etc etc anyhow were was i.

Posted by horse, 16/09/2009 2:03:34 PM, on The Herald

It is true, horse, that bureaucracies cry wolf too often. Reading roadside signs is a very dangerous undertaking when you're supposed to be watching the road itself.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 16/09/2009 2:10:56 PM

Headstones have some interesting one line signs, there is not a lot of space to tell a life's story. What do you think your wife will put on your headstone Jeff?

Posted by chaff and oats, 16/09/2009 2:12:07 PM, on The Herald

Interesting though, chaff and oats! I think she would put something like "At least he was never boring". But maybe she'd add "A merciful end to my suffering".

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 16/09/2009 2:55:10 PM

the best headstone i think I have heard was on the ex-goons headstone - "i told you I was ill". -classic

Posted by itolduso, 16/09/2009 3:48:23 PM, on The Herald

yes Buell the end game is that if a danger exists in the public domain (or private property) that is the responsibilty of the state or others we hold the state or others responsible for damages caused by not being warned. The sign is there to warn and help stop us being hurt so that we wont sue the responsible party. that goes even for crossing the road ? we could also pay for helpers to do that but we already do that with volenteer "lollypop men" at school crossings.

Posted by signs, 16/09/2009 3:54:16 PM, on The Herald

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