Catastrophic flammable liquid fire at service station (24 February 2023)
A flammable liquid fire at a service station saw workers and others exposed to a risk of injury when an uncontrolled fuel and/or vapour was ignited. The fire occurred while fuel was being unloaded from a road tanker into underground storage tanks, destroying the service station buildings, forecourt canopy and fuel dispensers, the prime mover and fuel tanker trailer and three cars.
![A service station that has extensive fire damage, including a collapsed and charred canopy which has fallen onto a burned truck.](https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0017/1140227/catastrophic-flammable-liquid-fire.jpg)
Safety information
Consider ‘reasonably practicable’ control measures to manage the risks associated with the loading and unloading of petroleum products (class 3 PGII flammable liquids).
Ensure:
- All transfer equipment is inspected and tested in accordance with manufacturer recommendations to minimise the risk of fuel leakage
- Safe systems of work are established for the transfer of bulk fuel at service stations
- All workers involved in the delivery of fuel, including service station attendants and road tanker drivers, are trained in the procedures for safe transfer of bulk fuel
- An exclusion zone is established and enforced during fuel unloading to prevent the introduction of ignition sources into the hazardous zone
- Road tanker drivers are adequately supervised until they are deemed competent to complete the tasks unsupervised
- Emergency procedures are established, and workers are trained in these procedures.
Related guidance material
- Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods
- AS/NZS 60079.10.1 Classification of areas - Explosive gas atmosphere
- AS1940: 2004 Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
- AS4979: 2008 Flammable and combustible liquids – Precautions against electrostatic ignition during tank vehicle loading