Work Health Safety Assessment in a Fuel Station

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

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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