Warn Public of Danger at Gas Pumps, Projectiles and Benzene Poisioning

There is an Imminent Danger looming at our gas pumps,
that far exceeds the danger of static electricity.

Consumer seriously injured during normal fueling...
due to line shock, pre mature breakaway.....Consumer
was struck(120-240 psi)flattened against car with
breakaway coupling,gouging,cutting top of scalp,
spraying left eye & side with gasoline.(causing
permanent damage to left eye)

BUT,due to consumers head tilted toward pump this
blunt force trauma missed striking her temple. Thus
the industry is not faced with DEATH of an
unsuspecting consumer.

However, as the industry strives to make changes new
patents and safer delivery of fuel...consumers are
left in the dark as to the danger that lurks during
normal fueling.

Even the CDC holds blame as they keep Benzene
poisoning on the top 10 TOXIC Chemical list  for over
15 years.  Teaching, giving trainings to Medical
personnel that in this Injured Consumers case:
contacts immediately should have been removed, thrown
away,eyes flushed, clothes taken off safely disposed
of.

But without consumer KNOWLEDGE she wore Benzene
poisoning for the next 18 hrs...subjecting herself to
Leukemia, liver/spleen damage....along with an array
of other lab rat findings.

April 23-24Th at the Trade Show in Indianapolis,IN the
INDUSTRY has an opportunity to make a
difference....EDUCATING buyers to WARN: PUBLIC,
EMPLOYEES, Gas Station OWNERS/OPERATORS, of Hazards,
Dangers facing ALL phases of gasoline handling...

How many precedent's does the industry want to leave
unaddressed??? (Jeffrey v. Thibault Oil Co., 94-851
(La. App. 5 Cir. 3/1/95), 652 So. 2d 1021, writ
denied, 95-0816. (La. 5/5/95), 654 So. 2d 330.

File # 07-ST-CV-332-I PENDING now in GA : Hartley vs.
West Curahee Inc. d/b/a Mt. Mart #1, Shell Oil
Corporation US, Dover Corporation d/b/a OPW Fueling
Components.)

Widening the door for an UNPRECEDENTED NATION WIDE
CLASS ACTION suit by Pubic Citizen as evidence is
presently being mailed to arrange representation.

The evidence is plentiful to industries prior
knowledge of the "present danger" evident and
documented in every new patent. Even shown from
internal struggles of industries desire to Change,
improve, enhance breakaway safety features. Constant
desire to AVOID breakaway dangers.

However, UNTIL the industry OPENS the floodgates to
the PUBLIC acknowledging, educating, warning, signing,
supplying cleaning agents at each pump, this "KNOWN
DANGER" hidden from the Public is a ticking time bomb.

Jeff Pyle"Gasoline Equipment Consultants gemc"
<gemc@live.com> Commented:

"I still contend the only way to help prevent
accidents like yours is to lobby the Federal, State
and local (Fire marshal) officials responsible for
public safety and environment to put together a
uniform training, inspection and maintenance process
nationwide. Currently there is no Federal process and
the states are all over the board at best. Most states
do not have anyone with the proper training to
enforce, let alone implement a meaningful inspection
and maintenance process.

BUT I strongly believe the laws are flawed at best and
that there needs to be a nationally recognized and
enforced training, inspection and maintenance process
put in place to force owner/operators to "properly"
maintain their gasoline equipment.

I also believe you have an opportunity to work with
OPW and others in the industry to lobby and get this
done. This has long been a point of contention with
service providers, manufactures and others to get a
uniform installation, maintenance and inspection
process in place that is not open to interpretation,
as many of the existing rules are. I will also help
with this however I can. I have spent a lot of time
and energy over my years trying to convince
owner/operators that a piece of equipment should be
replaced due to potential safety hazards and some do
but still other subscribe to the if it ain't broke
don't fix it mentality. I have gone as far as to have
my tech's write on their work orders when a repair or
replacement was suggested and if the owner/operator
refused at least I had his signature we identified a
possible safety issue and the owner refused to act.
Many times that practice resulted in the
owner/operator changing their minds and had us do the
repair/replacement. Funny how minds change when they
know they are being held accountable."

Also Commenting on Consumer Injury:

From: "Robert Renkes" <rrenkes@pei.org>  View Contact
Details   Add Mobile Alert 
To: "'chris Hartley'" <cbhart21@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: FW: (Fwd) Breakaway gas hose injury
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 12:32:22 -0600
   
That's interesting. The organization I work for is
coming out with a
recommended practice Monday on how a service station
owner should inspect this stuff--it's not being done
too well now and there is nothing out there to tell
him how to do it.
Bob
**********************************

So who's it going to be that is going to make the
RIGHT CHOICE and make consumers aware?????
Husky, OPW/Dover, CDC, Public Citizen, Attorney
General, the evening news?

After research into the coupling known as a breakaway
by the industry made by OPW in their own patent as of
2003 states "premature breakaway during normal
fueling."

I've been fighting with Shell Oil, OPW/Dover
corporation to get them to  warn the public, since the
accident on 10/21/04.

If you feel you could be of assistance please contact
me at cbhart21@yahoo.com.