Those times when you think you've taken precautions...

[Bill]

But it turns out you haven't?

I just had one with petrol.

Thankfully I got away with a singed arm, but the way it crumpfed as the bonfire went up had me worried for my hair and ear. Thankfully I'd moved back a bit before lighting the box I intended to throw on to get it started, and did that at arms length, but the whole thing went up in one

As they used to say on Hill Street Blues Let's do it to them before they do it to us Let's be careful out there people.

[OllieC]

next time use paraffin or white spirit (or diesel if you don't mind the smell)

[surveyor]

I think you missed the most basic step.... Don't use petrol.

[Bill]

That's the worst thing, I know. I just had a can of petrol to hand that won't get used up this year.

[shtu]

Bill said:

petrol....bonfire...

The thing everyone forgets is that the petrol FUMES are the really flammable bit. So, when you are standing a couple of feet back, thinking you're being "safe", WOOF.

Same thing catches several amateur BBQ-ers a year.

[Piersman2]

OllieC said:

next time use paraffin or white spirit (or diesel if you don't mind the smell)

WD40.

Probably not the cheapest thing, but certainly got the firepit started no probs last weekend.

[Bill]

Well I must say you're all being very kind

[shtu]

You massive tool. What the hell were you thinking?



Better?

[Bill]

[Dog Star]

Oh yes. A couple of years ago I was using an angle grinder, all very safe with my safety specs on.

When I finished I took the specs off, and then a bit later rubbed my eye. Unfortunately I rubbed four tiny bits of iron into my iris and cornea.

After a couple of days of excruciating pain I eventually went to A&E where they had to rouse an eye specialist (it was 11 pm - and god love him he arrived in 15 mins). I then had to have my head stuck in a frame and anaesthetic needles stuck in my eyeball, some flourescing dye and then have the bits of metal picked out of my eyeball with needles.

Nice.

[CrutyRammers]

Dog Star said:

Oh yes. A couple of years ago I was using an angle grinder, all very safe with my safety specs on.

When I finished I took the specs off, and then a bit later rubbed my eye. Unfortunately I rubbed four tiny bits of iron into my iris and cornea.

After a couple of days of excruciating pain I eventually went to A&E where they had to rouse an eye specialist (it was 11 pm - and god love him he arrived in 15 mins). I then had to have my head stuck in a frame and anaesthetic needles stuck in my eyeball, some flourescing dye and then have the bits of metal picked out of my eyeball with needles.

Nice.

Haha, I did almost exactly that. Grinding with goggles on, took them off for a look, "oh, just a little bit more", grind, metal in the eye. Then exactly the same thing with having them picked out with needles, which isn't something I'd care to do again. You're there with you're head in the frame, a man comming towards your eyeball with a very sharp hypodermic needle, and he stops for a minute and says: "oh, make sure you don't move your eye at all - that would be bad"

[Paul Drawmer]

Bill said:

But it turns out you haven't?

I just had one with petrol.

Thankfully I got away with a singed arm, but the way it crumpfed as the bonfire went up had me worried for my hair and ear. Thankfully I'd moved back a bit before lighting the box I intended to throw on to get it started, and did that at arms length, but the whole thing went up in one

As they used to say on Hill Street Blues Let's do it to them before they do it to us Let's be careful out there people.

So; knowing that petrol is dangerous, as you obviously did, what exactly were the precautions that you had taken?

[Shaw Tarse]

Bill said:

Well I must say you're all being very kind

You 'tard, don't you remember Emsman?

[Spare tyre]

i goto le mans with a south african guy who has experience with explosives to open mines up etc

I knew i liked him when he was lighting a firework from his cigarette whilst holding and open can of petrol - how he has never been killed or killed anyone we will never know

[monthefish]

shtu said:

Bill said:

petrol....bonfire...

The thing everyone forgets is that the petrol FUMES are the really flammable bit. So, when you are standing a couple of feet back, thinking you're being "safe", WOOF.

Same thing catches several amateur BBQ-ers a year.

Worth a watch

[Bill]

Shaw Tarse said:

You 'tard, don't you remember Emsman?

Pretty much my first thought after establishing I was ok.

[Bill]

Paul Drawmer said:

So; knowing that petrol is dangerous, as you obviously did, what exactly were the precautions that you had taken?

Kept just far enough away to ensure no more than a light singeing?

[226bhp]

It's a sign of a misspent youth, we knew all about petrol, fumes and matches before the age of 16.

[226bhp]

CrutyRammers said:

Dog Star said:

Oh yes. A couple of years ago I was using an angle grinder, all very safe with my safety specs on.

When I finished I took the specs off, and then a bit later rubbed my eye. Unfortunately I rubbed four tiny bits of iron into my iris and cornea.

After a couple of days of excruciating pain I eventually went to A&E where they had to rouse an eye specialist (it was 11 pm - and god love him he arrived in 15 mins). I then had to have my head stuck in a frame and anaesthetic needles stuck in my eyeball, some flourescing dye and then have the bits of metal picked out of my eyeball with needles.

Nice.

Haha, I did almost exactly that. Grinding with goggles on, took them off for a look, "oh, just a little bit more", grind, metal in the eye. Then exactly the same thing with having them picked out with needles, which isn't something I'd care to do again. You're there with you're head in the frame, a man comming towards your eyeball with a very sharp hypodermic needle, and he stops for a minute and says: "oh, make sure you don't move your eye at all - that would be bad"

+ Another one here, at least I think that's how it happened, I never really knew TBH. I was working with metal, drilling, turning etc and thought it was just dirt, realised it was probably a bit more when it was still there the next day and went into A&E. Apparently it's best to act quick as my eye had started to grow back over it. I had to hold my head still while he picked it out with a needle, I could have done without the constant running commentary! He declared it out and went off somewhere leaving me sat up on the chair.
Next I knew I was coming round with a rather worried looking pair of nurses looking at me, the relief after the shock had caused me to faint .
"You sure your ok?" They said, "yeah, gotta get back to work" Says I staggering down the corridor....

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Well I guess we're all just human, even the professionals!


Here's a similar story...

When started a business in 2007, a shop in a town centre, I had a couple of guys come in who ran a Fire business. They supplied, fitted and serviced extinguishers, lights, signs etc. The important bit to note is that they were both ex-service Fire-Fighters.

I had them install some extinguishers and signs, and they gave me and my staff an afternoon's training on fire fighting. They brought some other extinguishers with them and we had great fun setting them off out the back, in order to learn.

Anyway I digress. One of them came in one year to swap our extinguishers for their annual service. He had what I can only describe as horrendous scarring to both his forearms. I asked him what had happened, and he had done what you did, only far worse

The skin on his arms was knackered, it will never be the same again. So if an ex fireman can pour petrol on a barbecue and nearly incinerate himself, then I guess it kinda lets you off a bit!!