Near Miss Risk of Explosion

On 10-December, 2015 at 7:15AM a high-risk event occurred involving a person smoking near an operational gas pump.  No actual adverse impact was experienced as a result of this event.

A customer at a gas station observed a construction worker smoking a cigarette within 5 feet of the pump.  The convenience store building was in the process of being remodeled at the time.  A group of 3 workers were working on the project.  The project area had been fenced in with temporary chain link fencing.  The workers were inside the temporary fence.  The fenced area included the fueling bays directly adjacent to the store.  However, three other fueling bays remained open to self-service customers.

The high-risk was determined based on the potential for gasoline vapors to ignite while people were in close proximity.  Potential ignition sources include the burning cigarette as well as the means of lighting the cigarette (match or lighter).  Potential fuel sources include flammable vapors released during the fueling process or vapors from a potential gasoline spill.  At the time of the event, three workers were present along with three customers.  Other customers were coming and going at the time.  The station is near a major thoroughfare with pedestrians periodically walking by.

It is unknown why the worker was smoking near the fueling area.  It is possible there was no designated smoking area.  It is also possible that the worker simply chose to smoke away from the designated smoking area.

 

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