Chevron's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for gasoline contains the following warnings:
- Extremely flammable.
- Harmful or fatal if swallowed — can enter lungs and cause damage.
- Vapor harmful.
- Long-term exposure to vapor has caused cancer in laboratory animals.
- May cause eye and skin irritation.
- Keep out of reach of children.
Filling a Container at a Service Station
Service stations are designed to minimize the hazards of handling gasoline: Flames are prohibited, dispensing equipment is grounded to prevent sparks, and dispensers are located outdoors so that escaping fumes are rapidly dispersed. (For environmental reasons, many Air Quality Management Control Districts now require that dispensers be equipped with nozzles that collect fumes from a vehicle’s fuel tank.)
However, filling a container is a special situation that requires extra precautions:
- Use only a UL-approved plastic or metal container.
- Shut off the vehicle's engine.
- Place the container on the ground a safe distance from the vehicle, other customers, and traffic.
- Keep the nozzle in contact with the container during filling.
- Manually control the nozzle valve; do not latch it open (If nozzle is fitted with a fume-collector, the filler-spout seal must be compressed to activate the dispenser).
- Do not smoke.
- Avoid breathing gasoline fumes.
Flowing gasoline generates a static electric charge that builds up on the gasoline in the receiving container. If the charge isn’t given an opportunity to dissipate, it can discharge to the metal spout of the dispenser nozzle as a static spark. (In a similar process, a static charge built up in a cloud during a storm discharges as lightening.) If the spark occurs near the open mouth of the container, where the concentration of gasoline vapor and air is in the flammable range, it could ignite the gasoline.
The static charge will dissipate more slowly from gasoline in a container being filled in the trunk of a car or on the bed of a pickup — particularly a pickup with a plastic bedliner. Putting the container on the ground and keeping the nozzle in contact with the container help dissipate the static charge. Another reason not to fill a container in a vehicle is that an accidental spill will contaminate the vehicle with gasoline.
Manually controlling the nozzle valve prevents the weight of the nozzle from tipping over the container and reduces the possibility of overfilling the container.
Caution: Only fill the container about 95% full. If the container is 10 inches tall, leave 1/2 inch (5%) between the surface of the gasoline and the top of the container. Fill vehicle fuel tanks one gallon short of their capacity.
Gasoline, like any liquid, expands as its temperature increases. In some parts of the country, stored gasoline might encounter temperatures as much as 50°F higher than the temperature at which it was dispensed. A 50°F temperature increase causes gasoline to expand about 3.5%. If there is no air space in the container for this increased volume to occupy, either gasoline will be forced out of the container or the walls of the container will be distorted.
Handling Gasoline Away From the Service Station
To avoid a fire, keep the gasoline away from any ignition source (flame or spark) and any ignition source away from the gasoline. There should not be an appliance pilot light or igniter within 50 feet of where gasoline is stored or handled. Gasoline fumes, which are invisible and heavier than air, can travel along the floor for some distance when they are not dispersed by air currents. If ignited, the fumes become a fuse that brings the flame back to the liquid gasoline source.
To avoid eye and skin contact, wear safety glasses and gasoline-resistant gloves.
For both fire and health considerations, it is best to handle gasoline outdoors. There are fewer ignition sources and the fumes are diluted and dispersed more quickly.
First Aid
The appropriate first-aid action depends on which part of the body was contacted by gasoline.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes immediately with fresh water for at least 15 minutes while holding the eyelids open. Remove contact lenses, if worn. No additional first aid should be necessary. However, if irritation persists, see a doctor.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Wash skin thoroughly with soap and water. Wash contaminated clothing. Discard contaminated non-waterproof shoes and boots.
Inhalation: If there are signs of respiratory irritation or nervous system irritation (headache, dizziness, lack of coordination), move the person to fresh air. If the signs continue, see a doctor.
Ingestion: If swallowed, give water or milk to drink and telephone for medical advice. DO NOT make the person vomit unless directed to do so by medical personnel. If medical advice cannot be obtained, then take the person to the nearest medical emergency treatment center or hospital.
Emergency Information: Call your local Poison Control Center or Chevron Emergency Information Center at (800) 321-0623 (24 hours).
All companies are required to develop and make available safety information on their products. You may obtain a Material Safety Data Sheet for Chevron gasoline by calling (415) 894-2783. The sheet provides detailed information on the hazards associated with gasoline and the appropriate responses. All companies are required to develop and make available safety information on their products. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available on our Web site. The sheet provides detailed information on the hazards associated with gasoline and the appropriate responses.
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