Work Health Safety Assessment in a Fuel Station

This paper discusses the work health safety assessment carried out in a fuel station in Australia. It identifies and describes key agencies governing work health and safety in the type of working environment selected. The findings of the work safety assessment are summarized and details of managing risk to vulnerable population are discussed.

Running head: GLOBAL HEALTH
Global Health
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

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Workplace Health and Safety is known to be the discipline related to the protection of
health and safety of the concerned stakeholders in the particular workplace as a result of
exposure to different hazards and risks as a result of varied workplace activities. All states in
Australia are in support of adoption of distinct set of WHS laws, policies, codes of practices that
are outlined for improving health and safety outcomes. It has been reported that Australian
workplaces are entailed to conduct regular work health safety assessments and coming up with
recommendations through which hazardous incidents can be reduced. Work safety assessments
ensure that all stakeholders have a disciplined attitude towards maintaining safety activities. The
present assignment is based on a work health safety assessment carried out in a selected
workplace. The six steps of completing an assessment are followed. The paper identifies and
describes key agencies governing work health and safety in the type of working environment
selected. The findings of the work safety assessment are summarized and details of managing
risk to vulnerable population are discussed.
Workplace hazards are common in almost all forms of working environment, and it is
crucial to identify and eliminate the same for ensuring work health and safety. It has been noted
that the requirements and nature of work in different workplaces contribute to the particular form
of hazards commonly identified in the same workplaces (Holt & Allen, 2015). In the present
scenario, the suitable environment selected for conducting a work health safety risk assessment
was a fuel station in a prime location within the city. Own role in the fuel station workplace is
that of a Customer Service Attendant. The fuel station has provision for providing diesel, petrol
and liquefied petroleum gas. Apart from fuel dispensers, there is provision for air compressor
that is generally used for inflating care tyres. A small convenience store is located at the end of
the premise that houses grocery food and snacks items, and selected groceries. This determines

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that the daily footfall of users of the fuel station is considerable. Fuel stations are known to be at
high risk of hazards since the same are responsible for storing and dispensing hazardous
substances, particularly inflammable substances like diesel, petrol, ethanol, butanol and liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG). Workplace employees have the accountability to implement and adhere to
proper mitigation systems and processes for ensuring safety and health of all stakeholders
(Ahmed et al., 2010).
Notable agencies and institutes in different countries are responsible for governing work
health safety in diverse workplaces. In Australia, Safe Work Australia is a Government statutory
agency that oversees and administers work health safety in workplaces, including fuel stations.
The agency had been set up in the year 2009 and encompasses representatives of the territory and
state governments, the Commonwealth, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the
Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Industry Group
(safeworkaustralia.gov.au, 2018). The agency is a national policy body that aims to bring
improvement in the working conditions of employees of different workplaces. Safe Work
Australia has outlined a Code of Practice for management of work health and safety risks, and it
is to be noted that the code is approved under section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act (the
WHS Act). The code is applicable to all stakeholders having duty of care in the particular
circumstances as mentioned in the code. This would include employees working at high risk sits
such as the fuel station.
The Work and Safety Act 2011 regulates the safe management of hazardous chemicals that
includes combustible and flammable substances (Keim, 2018). Fuel available at the present fuel
station is classified as hazardous chemicals under the WHS regulations. Owners and employees
of the workplace have therefore duties as the PCBU (person conducting a business or

3
undertaking) under WHS regulation for safe management of hazardous chemicals. The present
fuel station operates under the s.14 and s.15 of the Act. Practical guidance is provided to
employees regarding the technical resources such as-
 Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2013
 AS 4977: Petroleum products-Pipeline, road tanker compartment and underground tank
identification
 AS 1940: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
 AS 4976: The removal and disposal of underground petroleum storage tanks
 AS 4897: The design, installation and operation of underground petroleum storage
systems
The present work safety assessment was carried out following the six steps of completing
such an assessment. A template was used for recording all hazards identified, existing control
measures implemented in the workplace, the corresponding risk level, control measures further
needed for reducing risks. The aim was to reduce risk of harms and mitigate the damage caused
as a result of inherent risk. The work area was examined and the potential threats to health and
safety were identified. Hazards were correlated to the chances of illness, damage or injury. The
likely severity of the risk was measured against the control measures identified. Research was
carried out for understanding additional strategies that could be implemented in future.
Movement of vehicles- Hazards identified in relation to movement of vehicles was accidental
collision that can lead to injuries to individuals as well as damage to vehicles. At present, there is
provision for safety system devised for traffic movement at the entry and exit point, along with
display of clear warning signs. It is recommended that resources are allocated for mechanical

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protection of vulnerable structures like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage areas and fuel
tanks. Ensuring that the substance used is compatible with the weather condition of the area in
which the pump is located, mechanical support would need to be provided on the boundary of
the vulnerable structures. This would ensure that damage done to the structures as well as to the
vehicles is minimal.
Hazardous substances- In a fuel station, accidental spillage and leaks are common that cause
significant health complications. The workplace has policy for proper storage of hazardous
chemicals in the corresponding containers. Since the risk severity is high, additional strategies
are being put forward. The employees are to be provided with adequate personal protective
equipment and education is to be imparted regarding the utility of the same for protection from
occupational exposure. The fundamental personal protective equipment that the workers are
expected to use are hand protection such as gloves, respiratory protection such as disposable
masks, foot protection such as boots, skin protection such as aprons and long sleeved cloths, and
head protection such as helmets.
Electricity- Electrical system in the fuel system imposes a high risk of electric shock as a
result of misuse and manhandling of electrical equipment. At the preset, the workplace has
strategies for electrical installation certified by a reputed electrician every two years, and
protection and insulation of all equipment. There is however a need of clearly labeling all
electrical controlling machinery. Considering the complexity of the parts, the machineries are to
have a handling manual available to the workers. Further, there is a need of insulating the
electrical equipments and supplying them same through a circuit which has a 30 mA Residual
Current Device. The electrical instillation are to be deemed fit for a wet environment and have
adequate protection from mechanical damage.

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Maintenance of forecourt – Oil and fuel spillage on the forecourt pose significant hazard of
slips, trips and slips which lead to mechanical trauma and injury to individuals. Since the risk
severity is high, the authorities have provision for supply of industrial salt along with gravel
spread on the forecourt for fuel absorption and cleaning. It is recommended that the workers are
further trained for dealing with minor spillages. Spill containment systems in areas for the
dispensing work on the forecourt are to be maintained. Workers are to be trained for ensuring fill
and dip point markers for underground tanks. The workers are to be educated that spill
containment boxes are to be free of fuel and in case water is present, the seals are to be replaced
(worksafe.qld.gov.au, 2018).
The risk of suffering health and safety concerns for the vulnerable population is high, and
thus the fuel station must set provision for addressing the concerns of such population. Disabled
drivers might be facing challenges in accessing services at the station. It is therefore
recommended that a separate area in the forecourt is provided where disabled drivers can have
their vehicles filled. Another option is that mechanical alarm system can to be installed so that
workers from the station can be alerted for assisting the disabled drivers when they arrive. Such
alarm systems are to be placed at all the fuel filling counters. Speaking in terms of ethnic
diversity, it has been noted that non-indigenous Australian population is to be regarded as a
vulnerable population due to their level of English literacy. It is therefore recommended that
individuals from the non-indigenous population are employed in the fuel station so that
communication station users do not face challenges in putting forward their concerns and
communicating effectively (Monney, 2015).
In conclusion, the present work and safety assessment was pivotal for understand the further
needs of adhering to principles of health and safety. Through the assessment a number of hazards

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have been identified that need to be addressed at the earliest. The areas encompassed in the
assessment are movement of vehicle, hazardous substances, electricity, and maintenance of
forecourt. While the current risk rating for movement of vehicles is moderate, the rating for
others is high. A set of distinct recommendations have been outlined appropriate to the identified
risks. This includes awareness of the vulnerable populations and the corresponding strategies to
be implemented.

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Task or
scenario
Hazard/s Associated
harm
Existing Risk
Controls
Current
risk
rating
Any
additional
controls are
required?
Residual
risk
rating
Movement of
vehicle
Accidental
collision
Injury to
individuals
Safe system
devised for
traffic
movement
such as exit
and entry
forecourt
Display of
clear warning
signs
Moderate Provision of
mechanical
protection
for
vulnerable
structures
like
liquefied
petroleum
gas (LPG)
storage
areas and
fuel tanks
3
Hazardous
substances
Accidental
spillage
and leak,
indirect
exposure
Respiratory
health
conditions,
chemical
burns,
dermatitis
Storage of
hazardous
chemicals in
the respective
containers
High Adequate
provision of
appropriate
personal
protective
equipment
for all
workers
Staffs are
trained to
obtain
information
on all
substances
used in the
pump
premise
from hazard
data sheets
4

8
Electricity Misuse
and mal-
handling
of
equipment
Electric
shock
Electrical
installation
certified by a
reputed
electrician
every two
years
All
equipment
appropriately
insulated and
circuits
protected
High All
electrical
controlling
machinery
must have
readily
accessible
and clear
labels
3
Maintenance
of forecourt
Slips, falls
and trips
Mechanical
trauma
Supply of
industrial salt
along with
gravel spread
on the
forecourt for
fuel
absorption
and cleaning
High Staffs to be
trained for
dealing with
minor fuel
spillage
3

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References
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Hazards By Using Risk Assessment Criteria. In Int’l Conference on Environment.
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Morbidities Among South Asian Migrant Gas Station Workers in Kuwait. Journal of
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