India Bans Cellphones at Petrol Pumps

India's Petroleum Ministry has issued a decree banning the use of cellphones at the country's petrol pumps, citing a slight risk of ignition of the petrol fumes. The Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) has previously advised cellphones to be switched off when at petrol stations, citing the risk of sparks from the batteries.

The Petroleum Minister, Ram Naik has given the petrol stations 30 days to produce leaflets explaining the ban to customers, and required that the petrol stations start putting up signs advising of the ban immediately.

The measure could be controversial however, as Shell UK Oil has previously assessed the relative risks at petrol station forecourts and said, "portable cellphones properly used do not represent a meaningful hazard on the retail forecourt. Without doubt, apart from the human acts of smoking and striking a match, the thing that represents the greatest hazard on the retail forecourt is the motorcar!"

There have been "rumours" of cellphones being responsible for fires at petrol pumps, but none of these have ever been substantiated.'"

Posted to the site on 1st July 2002