Gasoline Cans
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Workshop Tools & Equipment · CPSC Code 981
Stable over 5 years
The verdict
Gasoline Cans carry a danger score of 41/100 (moderate risk), driven by roughly 1,671 ER-treated injuries a year that are roughly flat over the last five years.
- 41/100
- danger score (moderate risk)
- 1,671
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 19.2%
- end in hospital admission
- 25-34
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 981 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 41/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for gasoline cans - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume1,671 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)19.2%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-10%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Gasoline Cans (CPSC product code 981, in the Home Workshop Tools & Equipment category) generate an estimated 1,671 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 33,416 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 41/100 for this category (moderate risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are roughly flat over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2019 (2,197 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2013 (825 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for gasoline cans is burns, thermal to the face, accounting for approximately 5,196 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by burns, thermal to the lower leg (2,840 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 6,337 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 19.2% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 149 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how gasoline cans fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,095 | 211 | |
| 5-14 | 1,447 | 690 | |
| 15-24 | 4,000 | 840 | |
| 25-34 | 5,307 | 1,030 | |
| 35-44 | 3,440 | 504 | |
| 45-54 | 3,713 | 974 | |
| 55-64 | 2,665 | 1,228 | |
| 65-74 | 2,302 | 1,103 | |
| 75+ | 2,106 | 768 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Burns, Thermal | |
| Lower Leg | Burns, Thermal | |
| Hand | Burns, Thermal | |
| All Parts Body | Poisoning | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Upper Trunk | Burns, Thermal | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Lower Arm | Burns, Thermal | |
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain | |
| Eyeball | Other | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Upper Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Eyeball | Derma/conjunct |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
52 YOM-A GAS CAN FELL ON HIS HIP DX: HIP CONTUSION
71YOF PRESENTS WITH LOW BACK PAIN THAT ACTUALLY BEEN PRESENT FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS. SHE WAS INITIALLY TREATED WITH SHOTS AND HAD INITIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE SYMPTOMS, REPORTS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO SHE LIFTED A HEAVY CAN OF GASOLINE TO FILL THE LAWNMOWER AND HAS HAD WORSE PAIN SINCE DX: STRAIN OF LUMBAR REGION
70YOM WAS WORKING ON A MOTORCYCLE AND IT BACKFIRED INSIDE HIS GAS CAN AND CAUGHT IT ON FIRE; HE TRIED TO CARRY THE GAS CAN OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE SO IT WOULD NOT BURN THE HOUSE AND GOT SUPERFICIAL SECOND-DEGREE BURNS TO LEFT FOREARM AND THE LATERAL ASPECT OF THE LEFT LEG. UNKNOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT INVOLVEMENT. DX: SECOND-DEGREE BURN
72YOM WAS CARRYING A GAS CAN WHILE WALKING WHEN HE DEVELOPED PAIN IN HIS CHEST DX: ACUTE CHEST PAIN
4YOM, AT DADS HOUSE, STUCK STRAW INTO GAS CONTAINER, DRANK SOME SPIT OUT DX: GASOLINE INGESTION
58 YOM WAS IN HIS CAR WITH AN OPEN FUEL CAN, LIT UP A CIGARETTE AND IGNITED A FLASH FIRE. PATIENT REMAINED IN HIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES. FD NS. DX: BRADYCARDIA, BURN 6% TBSA PARTIAL THICKNESS BURNS TO FACE AND BILATERAL UPPER EXTREMITIES.
27YOM PRESENTS WITH BURNS TO ANTERIOR FACE AND NECK AFTER A GASOLINE TANK EXPODED AND SPLASHED UP ONTO HIS FACE. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO START A FIRE WHEN THE FLAME CAUGHT THE GAS TANK. UNKNOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT INVOLVEMENT. DX: FACIAL BURN
74YOF STATES THAT THE DAY BEFORE SHE WAS LIFTING A 50 POUND GAS CAN IN DEVELOPED PAIN IN HER NECK AND SHOULDER DX: TORTICOLLIS; STRAIN OF LEFT SHOULDER
5YOM, BONFIRE, GAS CAN ON FIRE, BURNED LEFT HAND DX: SUPERFICIAL DEGREE SUPERFICIAL BURN LEFT HAND
71YOM PATIENT WAS SETTLING DOWN A 2-GALLON DRUM OF GAS ON THE GROUND AND HE BENT OVER FELT A POP IN HIS KNEE DX: SOFT TISSUE INJURY OF RIGHT KNEE
33 YOM SUSTAINED BURNS AFTER A CAN OF GASOLINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE FIXING HIS CAR. +FD. DX: PARTIAL THICKNESS BURN PALM OF RIGHT HAND
50YOM PATIENT WAS FILLING UP THE GAS TANK ON HIS VEHICLE WITH A GAS CAN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE REAR OF HIS CAR AND PUSHED THE CAR INTO PATIENT. PATIENT REPORTS FENTANYL USE. HE HAS A BRUISE TO HIS THIGH AND DRIED BLOOD ON HIS HEAD. DX: CHEST WALL PAIN, PEDESTRIAN INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
I was pouring gasoline out of a 5-gallon Midwest Can Company Model 5610 gasoline container into my riding lawn mower when I realized that gasoline was also pouring out all over my legs, feet, and driveway. Upon inspection, I found that the plastic screw collar surrounding the pour spout was severely cracked and allowing gasoline to pour out freely. I also inspected my 2.1 gallon Midwest Can Company gasoline container and found that the screw collar on it was also cracked and leaking gasoline and fumes freely, even while sitting idle. These containers are an extreme fire and environmental hazard and should be recalled immediately.
Scepter Flo N' Go Duramax 14 Gallon Portable Gas Fuel Tank leaked at the hose connection. Fumes ignited resulting in 2nd degree burns. The problem with this setup is unlike traditional gas can than needs to be tipped, if there is a loose connection the fuel will leak.
The information is from the fuel geysering reporting site used by the US Forest Service. Date of Incident: Thu, 2018-08-30 Time of Incident: 4:45 pm Geographic Area: [REDACTED] State: [REDACTED] Unit: [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Incident (Wildland Fire) Equipment Type: Fuel Transport Container Make: Wavian Model: NATO Jerry Can Approximate Air Temperature (Fahrenheit): 75 F Approximate Elevation the Geyser Occurred: 6200 What type of work was being performed? Opening jerry can to mix saw oil. Were any injuries associated with the fuel geyser event? No Where was the fuel acquired? Fire Camp How old is the fuel? 1-2 weeks If the fuel was a two cycle mix, what was the mix ratio? 50:1
I purchased two Nboocup 20L Metal Storage Jar with Spout, Car Trucks Motorcycle Equipment, Sturdy Organizer with Handle, Red (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DX1ZTVPK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1) from Amazon.com. The metal pour spouts on both items is not sealed so gasoline pours out where the two pieces are connected. It is a fire hazard should someone try refilling a hot lawnmower and the fuel comes in contact with a hot component.
The Briggs & Stratton 85060 6-Gallon Auto Shut Off Gas Can needs to be recalled. The product is unsafe for the following reasons. The product violates the law in which it leaks gasoline when pouring fuel from the spout. It has a poor product design which allows for this design flaw. Additionally, it poses a safety issue when fuel is being leaked when attempting to refuel.
The consumer stated that he believes that the new kerosene containers pose a fire hazard to consumers. He stated that to use the cans have a plastic tube inside that can be use to pour if you reverse the position of the cap. The consumer stated that to use the tube you have to pull the plastic tube out from inside the can and it leaks kerosene all over the place. The consumer stated that trying to use the tube he pour kerosene all over his house. The consumer stated that he believes that this product should be investigated.
The two halves of a molded plastic Blitz 5-Gallon Enviro-Flo Gas Can started to separate allowing gasoline to escape. The container was a little less than a year old and had not been mistreated in any fashion. Inspection of the joint on it and another container bought at the same time showed a re-entrant angle at the sealed joint that was improperly made. Fortunately the initial separation was small and at the top handle so that the container could be emptied before significant spillage.
My 'safety' gas can does not work properly anymore. The pushbutton to allow the fuel to flow has become sticky and does not release. While the mechanism to stop the initial overflow of fuel functions, when you release the button it does not return properly. This leaves the user to bang on the nozzle, or try to pry the button up. Worse, if they don't realize this, they lift the gas can out of the tank and then it free-flows and spills fuel everywhere. I'm a mechanical engineer and understand how this is supposed to function, and it used to work better. Now that it's about 2 years old it does not work properly and needs to be addressed. This is a GarageBOSS Press 'N Pour Gas Can by Briggs and Stratton.
Showing 8 of 149 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to gasoline cans on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are gasoline cans?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, gasoline cans have a danger score of 41/100 (moderate risk). An estimated 1,671 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from gasoline cans?
The most common injury is burns, thermal to the face, accounting for approximately 5,196 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from gasoline cans increasing or decreasing?
Stable over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for gasoline cans injuries?
The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 6,337 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by gasoline cans?
Of all ER visits involving gasoline cans, approximately 19.2% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (80.8%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with gasoline cans?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Home Workshop Tools & Equipment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 41/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 25-34 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
