Fuel Station Safety Signs

Fuel is one of the most indispensible commodities of modern existence, especially the fuel that powers your vehicles. Understandably, fuel stations are frequented by hundreds of people throughout the day but not everybody is aware of the inherent dangers.

Yes, fuel is one of the most easily recognizable chemical and fire hazards around, yet few people recognize its potential threats and take steps consciously to keep themselves safe and secured.

This includes both employer and employees of the fuel station along with the general customers. It is for this reason that appropriate and adequate mandatory signs should be compulsorily installed at places as per guidelines of the authorities.

Typical Hazards Associated with Fuel Stations

Fuel stations are extremely hazardous workplaces that sell highly inflammable liquid products derived from petroleum. The products comprise organic substances and other additives that pose risk to your health, safety and the general environment.

Explosion and Fire Hazard

Petrol products are volatile liquid that emit flammable vapours which can explode easily if ignited accidentally. Petrol vapour being heavier than air may accumulate at corners and cavities (and remain there persistently) even when there is no visible sign of the liquid on the ground. Such vapours are released every time petrol is transferred or handled during the course of work.

Also, the vapours tend to stick to the clothes or other substances of workers and customers, making them especially vulnerable.

Moreover, petrol floats on water and if spilt; can be carried through drains and ducts; forming a potential ring of fire all around the fuel facility.

So even a tiny spark has the potential to turn into a raging inferno in real quick time and destroy the entire facility within minutes.

Hazard from Vehicular Movements

Fuel stations also experience extensive vehicular movement throughout the day. There are different categories and sizes of vehicles that are moving in and out continuously. Understandably, this posses hazard to workers and customers alike in the form of accidents and unintentional collision that may occur any time because of wrong parking or use of inappropriate lanes.

Importance of Safety Signs at Fuel Stations

Understandably, fuel stations are required to conform strictly to certain safety standards stipulated by the authorities. However, adhering to such high standards every time can be difficult and it is here that mandatory signs play a vital role.

Installed at strategic positions, these signs remind both workers and customers of certain do's and don'ts that make the fuel facility safer and more secure for all. They use texts and graphics or combine both to create messages that can be understood by all at the workplace irrespective of the language spoken.

Such safety signs should be installed conspicuously at strategic locations and individual dispensing lanes so that these are clearly visible to the general public. The lettering should be large enough to be visible from a stipulated distance and at eye-level for easy viewing.

Also, there are different categories of such safety signs such as prohibition signs, mandatory signs, hazard signs and so on. Each safety sign denotes a certain category or risk and prohibits / restricts or urges you to take certain actions that will lead to a safer environment at the fuel station.