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, cars 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 a) Fire and Explosion b) Slip Health a) Noise 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 1. Explosion

People or Item at risk People Pump attendance Car wash worker Cleaners Cashiers Customers Mechanics Cleaners Customers Car wash worker Mechanics Pump attendance Car wash worker Cleaners Customers Mechanics Pump attendance Customers Cleaners Mechanics Item Petrol station Building near the petrol station Computer and paper records Stock (spare parts and confectionary) Workshop none

3. Slippery floor

4. Noise

None

5. Heat

None

6. Odor

Pump attendance Customers Cleaners

None

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Step 3: EVALUATION OF THE RISK

Significant Hazards 1. Explosion Source of Hazard Wave from hand phone Engine vehicles Smoking 2. Slippery floor Petrol vapor Oil spill Water spill 3. Noise Vehicles engine NGV pump 4. Heat 5. Odor Vehicles engine Petrol vapor Petrol Effects of Hazard Severe injury Death Property damage Fall Injury Broken property Temporary deafness Instant damage from very loud noise Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Heat stroke or exhaustion Dizziness Unsteadiness Slurred speech

Significant Hazards
1. Fire and explosion

Explanation Of Causes And Consequences

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

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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 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 vehicles air conditioner can make the floor become slippery. The workers may fall when walk on this slippery floor. 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

3. Noise

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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 exhaustion. 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 cause long-term signs of health effects. However, such as breathing large quantities of petrol odor may drunkenness, 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 body. molecules. This will prevent oxygen from being transported throughout the Manifestations of carbon monoxide poisoning include brain functioning impairment irregular heart functioning, dizziness, blurred vision, headache, seizures, vomiting, and coma.

5. Odor

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3.1: RISK RATING

3.1.1: RATE HAZARD

1 Insignificant 2 Minor 3 Moderate 4 Major 5 Catastrophic

No injuries, low financial/environmental impact. First aid treatment required some environmental and/or financial impact. Medical treatment required, contained environmental impact, high cost Serious injury, extensive injuries, severe environmental damage, major cost Death or large number of serious injuries, environmental disaster, huge cost

3.1.2: RATE RISK

1 Rare 2 Unlikely 3 Possible 4 Likely 5 Almost certain May occur only in exceptional circumstances

Could occur at some time

Might possibly occur at some time

Will probably occur in most circumstances

Expected to occur in most circumstances

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Risk Assessment Matrix

LIKELIHOOD Catastrophic 5 Almost certain 5 Likely 4 Possible 3 Unlikely 2 Rare 1 5 4 3 2 1 10 8 6 4 2 15 12 9 6 3 20 16 12 8 4 25 Major 4 20 SEVERITY Moderate 3 15 Minor 2 10 Insignificant 1 5

Risk Score 15-25 5-12 4-6 1-3

Frequency Extreme High Moderate Low

Action Immediate action required Action plan required, senior management attention needed Specific monitoring or procedures required, management responsibilities must be specified Manage through routine procedures

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Risk rating= Consequences X Likelihood

1. Fire and explosion. SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD Almost certain 5 Likely 4 Possible 3 Unlikely 2 Rare 1 2. Slippery floor SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD Almost certain 5 Likely 4 Possible 3 Unlikely 2 Rare 1 Catastrophic 5 Major 4 Moderate 3 15 Minor 2 Insignificant 1 Catastrophic 5 Major 4 Moderate 3 Minor 2 Insignificant 1

10

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3. Noise SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD Almost certain 5 Likely 4 Possible 3 Unlikely 2 Rare 1 4. Heat SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD Almost certain 5 Likely 4 Possible 3 Unlikely 2 Rare 1 Catastrophic 5 Major 4 Moderate 3 Minor 2 Insignificant 1 Catastrophic 5 Major 4 Moderate 3 Minor 2 10 Insignificant 1

5. Odor 10 | P a g e

SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD Almost certain 5 Likely 4 Possible 3 Unlikely 2 Rare 1 Catastrophic 5 Major 4 Moderate 3 15 Minor 2 Insignificant 1

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 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. Noise occur at petrol station Heat from engine vehicles petrol vapour, Surrounding especially when afternoon Heat occur at petrol station NGV, Vehicles engine, Traffic hone, Massive traffic flow, Odor at petrol station Petrol odour,

15

10

15

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 1. Fire and explosion

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

3. Heat

4. Noise

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ear muff while working with high level of noise equipment( welding and test the vehicles engine) 5. Odor Explain the important of protective mask at petrol station. Train the workers about wearing the mask properly.

Step 6: Record
Hazards
Fire and explosion

People and Items at risk

Pump attendance Car wash worker Cleaners Cashiers Customers Mechanics

Risk rating 10

Control Measure
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.

Additional information and training

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

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occur
Heat Pump attendance Car wash worker Cleaners Customers Mechanics

10

Placed or added fans at petrol station Switch off the vehicles engine

Duration of working period is divided into 2 shifts to reduce the worker exposure to heat. 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) Explain the important of protective mask at petrol station. Train the workers about wearing the mask properly.

Noise

Pump attendance Customers Cleaners Mechanics

Placed sound absorptive material on walls and ceiling in NGV areas. Using ears plugs for pump attendant and cleaners.

Odor

Pump attendance Customers Cleaners

15

Wearing protective mask

Step 7: Monitoring and Review

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

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1. Goma petrol station blast kills 50,Retrieved on April 1, 2009, from http: // www.bbc.co.uk/ communicate/ 2. Individual Risk Assessment. Retrieved on April 1, 2009, from http://www.avonfire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F02D293D-E46D-4238-B2E23A5C29DF12A4/0/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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