Risk Assessment Study on Workers and Customers at the Petrol Station

1.0: INTRODUCTION

In Malaysia, there are many types of petrol stations such as Petronas, Shell, Esso

and Mobile, BH Petrol, and others. Most of the petrol station is placed near the highway. It is

the place that contains various facilities such as pumping petrol place, air and water

services, car wash, car’s accessory, ATM, foods and drinks. However, petrol stations are

particularly hazardous workplaces which are required to be licensed because they store and

sell a highly flammable liquid. The subject of this study is the worker at the petrol station

such as pump attendance, car wash worker, cleaners, cashiers and customers. They are

exposing with physical hazard, chemical hazard and radiation hazard. Physical hazard

includes heat, noise, and odor. The chemical hazard is vapor, dust, and gases. The

radiation hazard includes wave and static electricity.

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2.0: HOW TO ASSESS THE RISKS IN THE PETROL STATION

Step 1: IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDS

Firstly, we have identified the hazards by observation at the petrol station. We have found five major hazards that can be classified into 2 categories which are safety and health.

Safety Healtha) Fire and Explosion a) Noiseb) Slip b) Heat

c) Odor

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Step 2: IDENTIFICATION OF PEOPLE AT RISK

a) Identify who at risk People at risk are people who are exposing with the hazard whether in short or long time. They will get side effects to their safety and health resulting from the exposing.

b) Items at risk In this stage, the properties or equipment can damage when expose to the hazard. It need high cost to recover all damage.

Significant Hazards People or Item at risk1. Explosion People Item

Pump attendance Car wash worker Cleaners Cashiers Customers Mechanics

Petrol station Building near the petrol station Computer and paper records Stock (spare parts and

confectionary) Workshop

2. Slippery floor Cleaners Customers Car wash worker Mechanics

none

3. Noise Pump attendance Car wash worker Cleaners Customers Mechanics

None

4. Heat Pump attendance Customers Cleaners Mechanics

None

5. Odor Pump attendance Customers Cleaners

None

Step 3: EVALUATION OF THE RISK

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Significant Hazards Source of Hazard Effects of Hazard

1. Explosion Wave from hand phone

Engine vehicles

Smoking

Petrol vapor

Severe injury

Death

Property damage

2. Slippery floor Oil spill

Water spill

Fall

Injury

Broken property

3. Noise Vehicles engine

NGV pump

Temporary deafness

Instant damage from very loud noise

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

4. Heat Vehicles engine

Petrol vapor

Heat stroke or exhaustion

5. Odor Petrol Dizziness

Unsteadiness

Slurred speech

Significant Hazards Explanation Of Causes And Consequences

1. Fire and explosion Petrol is an extremely volatile liquid which gives off

flammable vapours at very low temperatures which

is about -40 °C. Explosion is occur from the

reaction of petrol vapor with naked flames. When

the people are smoking at the petrol station, the

possibility of fire to occur is high.This is because,

when this vapours mixed with air, these vapours

can form a flammable atmosphere that will readily

burn or explode if an ignition source is present. A

mixture containing between about 1% and 8% of

petrol vapour is flammable. Petrol can be

particularly hazardous if it is spilt onto clothing, as it

lingers in the fibres of the material for a long time

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which is even after any visible signs of the spill

have disappeared. Such contaminated clothing is

easily ignited by common ignition sources such as

smoking materials, naked flames or sparks, giving

rise to a serious fire that often results in fatal or

major injuries.(The safe recovery of petrol from

end-of-life vehicles, 1969). The threat mobile

phone have ability to produce sparks. This can be

generated by the high power battery inside the

phone, which is itself, a possible cause of fire. But

a electromagnetic wave emitted by the phone or

more sufficient to create considerable static

electricity that heats the surrounding and if the

flammable vapor is concentrated enough can

cause explosion.

2. Slippery floor The spillage of oil at the floor occurs when the workers fill up the underground petrol tank. So, the floor becomes oily and greasy. Besides, the spillage of water from vehicle’s air conditioner can make the floor become slippery. The workers may fall when walk on this slippery floor.

3. Noise High noises that have found at petrol station are mostly come from customers’ vehicles and NGV pump. Too much exposures of noise can make temporary deafness, instant damage from very loud noise, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) hears loss among the workers.

4. Heat Heat is comes from increasing temperature of surrounding especially in the hot weather, engine from the vehicle and from the petrol itself. The effect of heat is heat stroke or

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exhaustion.

5. Odor Most of the workers are feeling uncomfortable

with the odor from the petrol. A short, one-off

exposure to petrol odor will not normally cause

any long-term health effects. However,

breathing large quantities of petrol odor may

cause signs of drunkenness, such as

dizziness, unsteadiness and slurred speech.

Gases are mostly emitted by vehicles exhaust.

Carbon monoxide that is emitted by vehicles

exhaust can harm health by competing with

oxygen for binding side on hemoglobin

molecules. This will prevent oxygen from being

transported throughout the body.

Manifestations of carbon monoxide poisoning

include brain functioning impairment irregular

heart functioning, dizziness, blurred vision,

headache, seizures, vomiting, and coma.

3.1: RISK RATING

3.1.1: RATE HAZARD

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1 Insignificant No injuries, low financial/environmental impact.

2Minor First aid treatment required some environmental and/or financial impact.

3Moderate Medical treatment required, contained environmental impact, high cost

4Major Serious injury, extensive injuries, severe environmental damage, major cost

5 Catastrophic Death or large number of serious injuries, environmental disaster, huge cost

3.1.2: RATE RISK

1Rare May occur only in exceptional circumstances

2 Unlikely Could occur at some time

3 Possible Might possibly occur at some time

4Likely Will probably occur in most circumstances

5 Almost certain

Expected to occur in most circumstances

Risk Assessment Matrix LIKELIHOOD SEVERITY

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Catastrophic

5

Major

4

Moderate

3

Minor

2

Insignificant

1

Almost certain

5

25 20 15 10 5

Likely

4

20 16 12 8 4

Possible

3

15 12 9 6 3

Unlikely

2

10 8 6 4 2

Rare

1

5 4 3 2 1

Risk Score

Frequency Action

15-25 Extreme Immediate action required

5-12 High Action plan required, senior management attention needed

4-6 Moderate Specific monitoring or procedures required, management responsibilities must be specified

1-3 Low Manage through routine procedures

Risk rating= Consequences X Likelihood

1. Fire and explosion.

LIKELIHOODSEVERITY

Catastrophic5

Major4

Moderate3

Minor2

Insignificant1

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Almost certain5

Likely4

Possible3

Unlikely2

10

Rare1

2. Slippery floor

LIKELIHOODSEVERITY

Catastrophic5

Major4

Moderate3

Minor2

Insignificant1

Almost certain5

15

Likely4

Possible3

Unlikely2

Rare1

3. Noise

LIKELIHOODSEVERITY

Catastrophic5

Major4

Moderate3

Minor2

Insignificant1

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Almost certain5

10

Likely4

Possible3

Unlikely2

Rare1

4. Heat

LIKELIHOODSEVERITY

Catastrophic5

Major4

Moderate3

Minor2

Insignificant1

Almost certain5

Likely4

Possible3

Unlikely2

6

Rare1

5. Odor

LIKELIHOODSEVERITY

Catastrophic5

Major4

Moderate3

Minor2

Insignificant1

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Almost certain5

15

Likely4

Possible3

Unlikely2

Rare1

3.1.3 RISK RATING CHART

20 Fire and explosion at pump station Sparkle of cigarette. Wave from used hand phone Do not switch off the engine

15 Slip occur at petrol station Do not wear flat shoes Spill of petrol make the floor oily, so they are more at risk improper storage of items Washing water from car wash.

6 Noise occur at petrol station Heat from engine vehicles petrol vapour, Surrounding especially when afternoon

10 Heat occur at petrol station NGV, Vehicles engine, Traffic hone, Massive traffic flow,

15 Odor at petrol station

Petrol odour,

Step 4: CONTROL MEASURE

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1. Fire and Explosion

Risk Rating =10

Action needed to reduce risk and check satisfactory system are in place :

Prevent the workers and customers using the hand phone, and smoking near the petrol tank.

Separate them by provide the particular area which is far from petrol tank.

2. Slippery floor

Risk Rating= 15

Substitute the floor with rough tile.

Cleaner need cleaned early enough to allow drying time.

Careful selection of floor cleaning equipment to minimize drying time.

Cleaner should placed warning signs to indicate cleaning in progress

Provide proper drainage system to prevent the waste water from cleaning process is stagnant on the floor.

3. Heat

Risk Rating = 10

Placed or added fans at petrol station

Switch off the vehicles engine

4. Noise

Risk Rating= 6

Placed sound absorptive material on walls and ceiling in NGV areas.

Using ears plugs for pump attendant and cleaners.

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Warning signboard

5. Odor

Risk Rating= 15

Wearing protective mask

Step 5: Additional information and training

HAZARD EXPLANATION

1. Fire and explosion Supervisor should increase the inspection in the whole petrol station

Frequently give training sessions about fire drill

Placed warning sign in strategic point.

2. Slippery floor Giving training about the correct procedure to the cleaners.

Inform the cleaners and mechanics to clean immediately when the oil and water spill occur.

3. Heat Duration of working period is divided into 2 shifts to reduce the worker exposure to heat.

4. Noise Duration of working period is divided into 2 shifts to reduce the worker exposure to noise.

Inform the mechanics about the important of using ear plug and ear muff while working with high level of noise equipment( welding and test the vehicles engine)

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5. Odor Explain the important of protective mask at petrol station.

Train the workers about wearing the mask properly.

Step 6: Record

HazardsPeople and Items at

riskRisk

ratingControl Measure

Additional information and

training

Fire and explosion

Pump attendance

Car wash worker

Cleaners Cashiers Customers Mechanics

10 Prevent the workers and customers using the hand phone, and smoking near the petrol tank.

Separate them by provide the particular area which is far from petrol tank.

Supervisor should increase the inspection in the whole petrol station

Frequently give training sessions about fire drill

Slippery floor

Cleaners Customers Car wash

worker Mechanics

15 Substitute the floor with rough tile.

Cleaner need cleaned early enough to allow drying time.

Careful selection of floor cleaning equipment to minimize drying time.

Giving training about the correct procedure to the cleaners.

Inform the cleaners and mechanics to clean immediately when the oil and water spill occur

Heat Pump attendance

Car wash

10 Placed or added fans at petrol station

Duration of working period

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worker Cleaners Customers Mechanics

Switch off the vehicles engine

is divided into 2 shifts to reduce the worker exposure to heat.

Noise Pump attendance

Customers Cleaners Mechanics

6 Placed sound absorptive material on walls and ceiling in NGV areas.

Using ears plugs for pump attendant and cleaners.

Inform the mechanics about the important of using ear plug and ear muff while working with high level of noise equipment ( welding and test the vehicles engine)

Odor Pump attendance

Customers Cleaners

15 Wearing protective mask

Explain the important of protective mask at petrol station.

Train the workers about wearing the mask properly.

Step 7: Monitoring and Review

Workers practices and procedures are be monitored on a daily basic by supervisor.

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Improve communication between workers and supervisor to identify the problem so the problem can be solved.

Review is doing after all the control measure and training had been done.

After the additional control have been identified and implemented the assessments will be review in 6 month.

References:

1. Goma petrol station blast kills 50,Retrieved on April 1, 2009, from http: // www.bbc.co.uk/ communicate/

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2. Individual Risk Assessment. Retrieved on April 1, 2009, from

http://www.avonfire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F02D293D-E46D-4238-B2E2-

3A5C29DF12A4/0/IndividualRiskAssessmentIA4V13Jun06.pdf

3. Pheasant Stephen, (1991), Ergonomics, Work and Health, Aspen Publishers, Inc.

4. Risk Assessment Severity Scale. Retrieved on April 1,2009, from

http://geographyfieldwork.com/RiskAssessmentSeverityScale.htm

5. Static Electricity Hazards at Petrol Stations, Retrieved on February 2, 2009, from http: // blog. Indiaautomobile.com/ ?p=323

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