beleive it or not, last summer the police were pulling over all the landscapers and issuing fines if they had gas in plastic cans. they seem to be getting really strict about it. i know a guy whos truck ignited because he had a metal can in a truck bed without a liner and static caused it to explode. the best bet is to buy the approved metal cans i think

 

Believe it or not but I have never heard
of this law but come to think about it does
sound safer to use metal.
I use the plastic one because they slide
better across the road when they fall off
the trailers!! (ha ha)

 

I use plastic. Besure to mark the mix can for the hand tools. I use blue for diesle.

Gene

 

We use the 5 gal Plastic "cans" that they sell at Hme Depot

 

Plastic, they're cheaper and the one's I bought said they were approved to transport gas in. Never heard of the law pertaining to them. Persumed ignorant until caught is my motto.

 

Plastic is O.K. as long as you dont fuel up with them in the bed of your truck. They can generate static and when not grounded, can cause MAJOR problems. I have been using a 5 gallon plastic for my Lawn Boy for at least 5 years now and guess what (knock on wood!!) no explosions! I use Terene (sp?) Metal Eagle Safety Cans for all my straight gas for the other equipment. Also no explosions.

 

Plastic. A metal 5 gallon D.O.T. transport can is around $180 in my Conney safety catalog.

 

Dixie,

I am sure you know this but for the benefit of those that don't the issue with static electricity comes from the plastic bed liners in pick up trucks. The can slides around creating static, you touch the nozzle to the plastic can and it arc's causing a small fire which burns your truck, the gas station, then half the block to the ground. As a fireman I don't mind that, but as a lawn business owner I believe it is not the most productive way to spend your day.

As for Metal or Plastic:

There was a thread on this issue just a few weeks ago and I can't find it. It had to do with someone getting fined $7000 by OSHA for having plastic fuel cans...

It may be a DOT requirement to have metal cans. I believe it is also an OSHA requirement to have metal fuel cans. I read somewhere there are different requirements for different size containers. I use plastic currently and will be switching to metal ASAP.

Police Departments can enforce Motor Vehicle laws which may call for DOT approved containers. I don't believe police departments have jurisdiction or authority to enforce OSHA regulations. Check your state laws pertaining to the transport of hazardous materials.

Mark

I finally found it. The date was off a little, it was originally written in January of 2000...
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=1903

[Edited by Chopper Lover on 03-22-2001 at 10:40 PM]

 

Why do they make plastic gas cans then??? Are you supposed to walk from your home to the gas station, fill it up, and WALK back to your house to fill up your mower? Heck NO! This is just a rumor, havent seen any LAWS about gasoline transport until it reaches 30 or more gallons in a single container.

 

That is what I thought Dixie but gosh they have so many different laws its hard to keep up?!?!?!?!?! I didnt know if since it was on a commercial truck if this made a difference....I know it does on my insurance so who knows!!

 

I beleive that all of you that are saying plastic gas cans are starting the fires are wrong. I saw a big story on dateline about it. It is metal cans transported in plastic bedliners. When they slide they get a static charge, then when the metal gas nozzle gets close enough to the metal can POOF!

I don't really understand how it is illegal to use plastic cans, Wouldn't they stop selling them?

 

Your state has laws on transportation of flammable liquilds, plastic is for storage at home in most states, OSHA standards, 29 CFR part 1926 page 150 1926.151 calls for a metal saftey can with spark arestor.

 

Paul,

Thank you, that is what I thought.

Nathan,

It is not the can that causes the problem, it is the bed liner. The liner is what generates the static. And yes, depending on the weather conditions you can get an arc off a plastic can. I know it sounds impossible, but that is what they thought about sending a man to the moon.

(I have read numerous postings at work since that report on Dateline way back when. Keep in mind that just because a reporter "reports" it does not mean it is totally accurate. I have not found a reporter yet than can get a story straight. I would trust a Weather Man first!)

The safest and smartest thing to do is not fill any cans while they are in the truck. (Especially if it is in contact with the bed liner.) That way if it does catch on fire, you can at least drive to a safe distance, wait to give a statement to the Fire Investigator, and keep on cutting the next day.

Mark

 

I use 6 gallon Metal jerry cans for gas, yellow plastic jobs for diesel

piss on the reporters.....they blow[no pun intended]everything out of preportion.

 

Eagle (can't remember the classification #)metal safety cans 2 5gal for gas, 1 21/2gal mixed ,about $50.00 apiece.If they tip over or fall off somthing they don't leak all over the place,and no friggen little plastic caps or spouts to fall off and lose.The only place I will refill is on my trailer if I overfill the trailer bed takes the hit,no driveway dammage from gas on asphalt.

 

The law is the law (whatever the law says) but the gas tank in my car and many trucks is plastic. The filler pipe is plastic as well.

Frank

 

Last year while filling my metal gas can, it was sitting on my metal tail gate, the rest of the truck has a liner. A cop drove by and said what I was doing was illegal. He said it should be on the ground or on the plastic liner. He was very nice about it and explained that a spark could result from metal to metal. I told this to a friend who is a local fireman and said the officer was absolutely right and said they had one incident that resulted from a similar situation. This year the liner that feel off the tailgate goes back on. I will have to check on regs about plastic cans because I use them for my mix so my helpers don't get it wrong. I wonder about those metal cages that soo many lanscapers have on trailers that they store there cans in.

 

Speaking of gas cans does anyone know of a good can plastic or metal that doesn't start leaking from the base of the nozzle soon after you purchase it.

 

Our company uses 5 gallon metal safety cans. Yes they are expensive, but they are required by law, whether it is OSHA or DOT who knows, but if plastic cans are found we will be fined.

Some us have plastic cans we carry in our personal vehicles that came from our homes, however our safety guy told us not to leave them in a company truck or at our shop.

We also paint the tops of the cans that are used for mixed gas. Crews can easily identify it, while the public can still identify it as holding gasoline.

 

I dont carry fuel for mowers, I stop at the pump on my way out to mow in the morning when I am after that first cup of java. I do carry a 2.5 gallon plastic container for two cycle mixes. I have also read on here where bedliners can create a friction spark igniting the containers.

 

For at least the 8 years or so...
Plastic, 5 gal. for reg gas.
Plastice 2.5 gal for 2-cycle marked with white "2" all over it.

 

Gosh LS,

I would not carry any but I could not make it through the whole day without refueling at least not most of the time.