this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2025
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[–] hodgepodgin@lemmy.zip 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

there’s a reason they tell you to NOT fill gas containers on your truck bed. It will ignite from static charge. Source: NIOSH.

In recent incidents reported to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), fires spontaneously ignited when workers or others attempted to fill portable gasoline containers (gas cans) in the backs of pickup trucks equipped with plastic bed liners or in cars with carpeted surfaces…These fires result from the buildup of static electricity. The insulating effect of the bed liner or carpet prevents the static charge generated by gasoline flowing into the container or other sources from grounding. The discharge of this buildup to the grounded gasoline dispenser nozzle may cause a spark and ignite the gasoline. Both ungrounded metal (most hazardous) and plastic gas containers have been involved in these incidents.

I think Veritasium made a video about the importance of conductive rubber tires when fueling.