Safety First

Process safety involves making sure our facilities are well designed, safely operated and properly maintained to prevent leaks of hazardous materials. We use structured processes to manage our asset integrity and prevent leaks, spills and any other technical failures or breakdowns.

Process safety starts at the early design phase of building facilities and continues throughout their life cycle, making sure they are operated safely, well maintained and inspected regularly to identify and deal with any potential process safety hazards.

Fuel Storage
The storage of petrol may pose several risks: Fire/explosion, environmental damage, health effects when handled by individuals. One should ensure all staff are adequately trained (retain training records); Storage tanks and dispense pumps are adequately maintained and monitored; Appropriate wet stock management procedures are used; Identify hazardous areas and control all sources of ignition – use appropriate warning and hazard signs.

Vehicle Movement
There is considerable movement of cars and other vehicles on the forecourt which could lead to accidental collision with structures, people and other vehicles. One should devise a safe system of traffic movement, e.g. a one-way system for entering and exiting the forecourt; Display clear information/warning signs setting out the traffic control arrangements; Provide sufficient designated parking areas close to the shop and away from the pumps; Provide mechanical protection to vulnerable structures such as fuel tanks and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) storage areas.

Hazardous Substances
Some items of stock and chemicals used in the car wash and for general cleaning can be harmful. Exposure to them through use, accidental spillage or leaks, can cause respiratory problems, dermatitis or chemical burns. One should store all hazardous chemicals in their original containers;
Obtain information on all substances stored and used in the premises from manufacturers hazard data sheets; Train staff and provide appropriate protective clothing.

Manual Handling
The removal of access covers to storage tanks, moving LPG cylinders and positioning of large cleaning fluid containers may cause back injury or muscular strains. One should Eliminate all unnecessary manual handling; Train staff in proper lifting techniques; Provide suitable equipment e.g. keys for lifting manhole covers; Avoid lifting items which are too heavy – use a trolley or castors where possible.

Slips, trips and falls
In Winter, snow and ice on the forecourt can present a risk to pedestrians from falling and from skidding vehicles. Fuel and oil spillages on the forecourt can present a slipping hazard. Supplies of industrial salt mixed with fine gravel should be kept and spread on the forecourt during icy conditions and also used promptly to absorb and clean up any fuel or oil spill; Staff should be trained on how to deal with minor fuel spillages.

Electricity
Accidents are mainly due to misuse of, or badly maintained, equipment and there is an increased risk of electric shock when using equipment externally in a wet environment e.g. commercial vacuums and car washes. Electrical installation must be certified by a competent electrician every three years; All electrical equipment used out of doors should be suitably insulated and should be supplied through a circuit protected by a 30 mA Residual Current Device; All electrical switchgear controlling machinery should be clearly labelled and readily accessible at all times; Ensure that the electrical installation used for mechanical car washes is suitable for a wet environment and has adequate protection from mechanical damage, considering the complexity of the moving parts; Fit a readily accessible emergency stop button to mechanical car washes.

Fire Risks
Obstructed exits e.g. by stock and/or accumulations of packaging can prevent escape and provide fuel for fires. One should keep all escape routes and fire exits clear and make regular checks to ensure that this is the case; Clear rubbish regularly (remember sand used for cleaning or containing petrol spills will be flammable and should be disposed of safely, by a hazardous waste disposal company if necessary).

Violence to Staff
Robbery of goods or cash may place staff at risk of violence. One should consider the use of closed circuit television, panic alarms and other security measures e.g. the use of pay windows at night.

Compressed Air Systems
The main risks arise from abuse of this equipment and from over inflation of vehicle tyres. One should make sure that the air system is located within sight of the shop attendant to ensure constant supervision; Display clear information on the use of the air system e.g. the driver should check the correct tyre pressures; Train staff in the safe use of the equipment.

Any leak in diesel or petrol storage tanks can negatively affect the environment. This increases the importance of proper handling of the storage tanks. It is essential to store diesel or petrol in strong and sturdy storage tanks.

Safe Location is Primary Requirement
You can’t place your tank in a risky area, such as any area near a well, borehole or spring.You shouldn’t place your tank in an area where there’re chances of floods. Floods increase the risks of oil spillage and broken pipelines. However, you can place bunded tanks near a water body. Other than a safe location, you must choose an area where people can reach the tank easily. If it’s placed in an unsafe location, then the maintenance team can’t reach your tank when it needs repair or maintenance. You should provide your tank with a strong support system as it’ll be heavier once it’s full. Steel tanks are safer to store diesel or petrol as they’re self-supporting. Plastic tank needs support at its base. You can opt for tank stands or brick piers to support the tank.

Proper Grounding System
Diesel or petrol storage tanks may be less combustible than gasoline tanks but a proper grounding system is necessary for both. It will save you from unnecessary tension. A proper grounding system allows the electrical and static charges to flow through the system without causing any damage to the tank.

Under normal conditions of utilisation, lubricants do not present any particular risks. However, in the case of an improper handling or accidents, hazards for the health may occur.

Toxicity
Most lubricants have a low toxicity level, but the exposures to which users can be submitted are multiple. The main contact zones with the oils and greases are the eyes and the hands. A few processes may also generate oil mists whose fineness allows them to penetrate the respiratory tracts

Precautions for use
In order to reduce and to prevent accidents, the following precautions should be taken:

Contact with the skin
This is as per strict personal and industrial hygiene rules. To avoid contact with the body:
• Use oil proof gloves,
• Wear clothes with an efficient protection,
• Do not wear oil contaminated clothes,
• Solvents, such as petroleum, petrol must not be used to remove oil from the skin,
• Use a protecting cream.

Used oils are hardly biodegradable; their disposal in the environment is therefore hazardous for natural systems; i.e
1L of oil pollutes 1 million litres of water

The lubricant quality is highly related to the volume of used oils that is generated. Accordingly, high quality lube oils provide much longer drain interval, and so the production of waste oil is minimised.

What are the dangers of LPG?
LPG may leak as a gas or a liquid. If the liquid leaks it will quickly evaporate and form a relatively large cloud of gas which will drop to the ground, as it is heavier than air. LPG vapors can run for long distances along the ground and can collect in drains or basements. When the gas meets a source of ignition it can burn or explode. Cylinders can explode if involved in a fire. LPG can cause cold burns to the skin and it can act as an asphyxiant at high concentrations.

What are the general requirements?

• LPG must be stored in adequate location wherein vessels or cylinders are suitably positioned having regard to the relevant codes of practice

• LPG plant must be designed to appropriate standards and be properly installed and commissioned by competent persons

• Plant must be fitted with adequate safety and monitoring control devices and operated by competent persons

• Occupiers must notify the gas supplier of any structural or other changes which might affect the gas installation

• There must be a suitable programme of maintenance and testing by competent persons

• Plant must be identifiable and accessible for maintenance

• Records of maintenance and tests must be kept

• Precautions must be taken to prevent fire and explosion including appropriate protection of storage vessels

• Installations must have appropriate security measures to prevent deliberate interference

• Incidents involving death or hospitalisation, fire or explosion or a significant release of LPG must be reported to the Authority and records of such incidents must be kept