WA service station inspections raise safety concerns

WorkSafe WA inspectors have raised concerns around hazardous substances and associated training, portable ladder use and first aid in service stations following inspections conducted as part of a proactive program.

The program — which ran over the 2018/19 financial year — looked at safety issues in petrol stations selling all brands of fuel in metropolitan and regional WA, as workers were seen to be at risk on multiple fronts.

In particular, they wanted to ensure that employers had procedures in place to protect staff from workplace violence and aggression, according to WorkSafe WA Acting Director Eve Speyers.

“Armed holdups are a very real risk for workers in service stations, and this inspection program set out to check that employers have procedures in place to respond to hold-ups or aggressive behaviour from customers,” Speyers said.

“The result was that employers and employees were, for the most part, found to be aware of the hazards associated with violence in the workplace, and most had control measures in place.”

Inspectors also looked at priority areas, such as manual tasks, electricity, slips, trips and falls, mobile plant and vehicle movement, hazardous substances and extended working hours, as well as issues related to new and young workers, appropriate use of ladders and fire safety.

A total of 162 Improvement Notices and 33 verbal directions were issued throughout 80 fuel outlets visited during the program.

Of the notices, 32 were related to hazardous substances and associated training, 13 referred to portable ladders, 12 to provision of information on infectious diseases and 10 to first aid issues.

“The main aim of these proactive inspection programs is to raise awareness and provide information to employers and employees to help them comply with workplace safety and health laws,” Speyers said.

She added that, while WorkSafe WA were pleased that the majority of service stations had strategies to deal with the risk of violence and aggression, they would continue monitoring the industry to ensure it improves safety management in other areas such as hazardous substances, ladders and evacuation procedures.

Image credit: © stock.adobe.com/au/Олександр Луценко