This paper briefly discusses the hazards of "splash filling" containers with liquids that are sufficiently conductive to produce sparks at their still aces. It is advised that the "2 mm" (2000 micron) maximum safe coating thickness for containers given in Codes and Recommended Practices is unsafe and should probably read "2 mil" (50 micron) instead. For a typical drum filling operation the effect of increased coating thickness in this range is to increase the liquid voltage by a factor of about 80. This paper advises on the appropriate use of dip pipes and other precautions. (C) 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 29: 98-102, 2010