Keeping Petrol Forecourts Safe

TRADING Standards Officers have been out inspecting petroleum premises, including garage forecourts. They inspect them to ensure compliance with their certificate conditions and the associated petroleum legislation, in order to reduce the risk to the local community for both safety and environmental factors.

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “Our Officers ensure that there is no evidence of petroleum products escaping and that they have all the necessary infrastructure and equipment to prevent, control and deal with leaks. Officers have been identifying problems involving the ingress of water causing the degradation of storage facilities (water in inspection chambers), damaged and malfunctioning containment methods, (drains and interceptors) and non approved equipment in hazardous areas that could cause ignition to vapours, as well as incomplete and incorrect record keeping.

“Officers have been issuing the appropriate Notices and revisits are underway to ensure that the changes have been made where required. This is ongoing work that is done all year round to keep residents of Essex safe.

“If you want to report a safety concern on a petrol forecourt please contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 040506”.