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2011 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
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See? It's Absoultely Safe!

2011 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Working in the powerplants shop of a Navy squadron, brought many opportunities to observe people who always seemed to be just on the edge of extinction, but somehow managed to survive. Our shop had a large table with a drip pan built into the top where components removed from jet engines were worked on. Jet fuel does not vaporize as fast as gasoline and therefore is considered “safer” to be around. A small pool of jet fuel in the drip pan was nothing to be concerned about and the guys would sit around smoking while someone a few feet away was working on a fuel control. One day a petty officer was showing a new airman recruit how to rig a fuel control. The young airman was concerned about all the smoking going on with fuel around. The petty officer decided to show off his vast store of knowledge to the young sailor and explained that jet fuel was so safe, one could drop a lit cigarette into it and it would not explode because of its low flash point. To illustrate, he flicked his cigarette butt into the small pool of fuel that was sitting in the drip pan… and walked around for the next month with red skin, no facial hair, eyebrows or eyelashes and a hairline that had suddenly receded. His effort to show off did not, however go unrewarded. The squadron featured a picture of his burned face on a nice big safety poster.

Submitted on 08/26/2011

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: Personal Story 1974

Copyright © 2011 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
While idiocy around flammable materials is commonplace I think this is still worthy enough for an HM. It's a good thing nobody else was working nearby!

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Just because something doesn't kaboom doesn't mean it can't burn! Thanks!

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