New APEAMembers

the control measures you adopt may have to be different from those in examples so as to meet the particular conditions in your workplace. Though the examples each deal with very different activities, you will see that there is a common approach.

•Risk assessment for an office •Risk assessment in a motor vehicle repair shop • Risk assessment in a warehouse •Risk assessment of contract bricklayers http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/examples.htm

UK, Portsmouth. Blaze after petrol pump is ripped out

Avan careered into a petrol station pump sparking a fire.

The impact sent the pump flying across the forecourt at the Total petrol station on the eastbound A27, between Havant and Chichester. Two passengers were treated for shock and whiplash at the scene on October 28th but escaped serious injuries. Aspecial safety mechanism fitted into the pumps prevented the fire spreading by stopping the petrol leaking. The fire was quickly put out by fire crews. Firefighters said there had been a number of similar incidents at the garage, possibly because the sliproad wasn't long enough for drivers to slow down.

Fire crew manager at Havant fire station Buster Brown said: 'If someone had been filling their car up, there would have been a very serious accident. 'The impact from the van ripped the petrol pump right out the ground and threw it about five metres across the forecourt. It then caught fire. 'Exactly the same thing has happened before, at the same petrol pump. 'Afemale driver crashed into the pump and ripped it out of the ground. 'We have been to several crashes at this petrol garage over the years – about 10, I would say. Perhaps the slip road is too short or drivers are not paying attention when they decelerate. 'There certainly seems to be a problem there.'

UK, Suffolk. Man burned in petrol bonfire drama

Oct 28 2006 - Young man caught in a flashback after he poured petrol on a bonfire is suffering from serious burns to his arms and face. The 22-year-old was taken to Ipswich Hospital after the bonfire got out of control in St Edmunds Close, Bromeswell. Assistant divisional officer (ADO) David Atkinson of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service who went to the scene said: “We got called out because a young man had been standing in front of a bonfire and used some petrol fluid to set it going. “He got caught in a flashback from the petrol fumes and burned both his arms and his face. “There would have been a flame that would have rushed out towards him.”

ADO Atkinson said the man was in a lot of pain and discomfort. He said the man's parents were around at the time of the accident and added that firefighters had put out the bonfire as soon as they arrived. And he warned that with bonfire night just a few days away the firework safety code must be followed. He added: “It's going to be a busy period for us and it's a time we don't enjoy because we see a lot of pain.”

“India has record 31,650 petrol pumps”

Energy-hungry India has a record 31,650 petrol pumps and 9270 LPG distribution agencies, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel said. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of 3861 petrol stations, followed by Maharashtra with 3024 pumps, he said in the Lok Sabha here. Andhra Pradesh has 2705 petrol pumps, Tamil Nadu 2649, Punjab 2308 and Rajasthan has 2649 petrol and diesel filling stations. Lakshadeep does not have a single petrol pump, while Andaman and Nicobar Islands have just five. Patel said off the 9270 LPG agencies, Uttar Pradesh has the highest 1145, followed by 1001 in Maharastra. Dadar and Nagar Haveli and Lakshdeep have one LPG agency each. India has 6607 kerosene distributorships, the highest number of 775 being in Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh has 697, while Andhra Pradesh has 605 LPG dealerships.

USA, E85 Dispenser Approvals withdrawn in the US.

Underwriters Laboratories, the product-safety testing group, said that it has no timetable for approving E85 systems for filling stations, an issue that's created confusion around the country and could slow the spread of ethanol fuel.

AULlisting is a requirement for filling stations under most fire codes. But on Oct. 5, ULsaid it was suspending its listings for any fuel system that handles E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. John Drengenberg, UL's manager of consumer affairs, said the group had certified some parts of a fueling system as acceptable for alternative fuels, but it didn't take a close look at E85 until May, when a supplier applied for a ULlisting for an entire "dispenser" — the pump and nozzle you park next to for refueling. The lack of the ULseal for fuel pumps carrying E85 means that most of the roughly 1,000 stations that carry it likely violate fire codes. It also means that in most states, stations that want to install E85 pumps will need waivers from local or state fire marshals.

No safety problems with E85 pumps have been reported. UL's decision applies only to pumps that sell fuels containing more than 15% ethanol. So far, two E85 stations in Columbus, Ohio, have been closed because of a lack of a ULlisting. Drengenberg said that as UL began to examine the system, it realized it needed more information about how ethanol reacts over long periods of time with parts made from some metals. "We looked at it very carefully, and we found this issue of the corrosiveness of ethanol," Drengenberg said. "We're going to hold back until we get all the questions that came into our minds answered." He said ULunderstands the demand for E85 pumps and is moving quickly.

Nearly all current E85 pumps were converted from gasoline, and while some components had ULlistings for ethanol, many companies sold parts that had been UL-listed for gas, then upgraded to handle ethanol. Robert Renkes of the Petroleum Equipment Institute, which represents 1,600 companies that supply fueling stations, said the ULdecision puts pressure on local officials to decide whether to allow new stations. Jim Jensen of CleanFuel USA, said he understands UL's concerns and expects ULto move quickly.

Press Releases

Achallenge fit for Hytek’s superheros!

Hytek employees spiderman and John-Boy Walton, sorry – we mean Peter Parker and John Walton - have both recently completed gruelling bicycle rides from Barcelona to France in aid of their respective charities.

Before setting out 67 year old Peter undertook a punishing training schedule in preparation for the trip, including working out at his local gym and cycling the 26 mile round trip to work every day!

Peter chose an off the beaten track route through the beautiful countryside

of Bordeaux and finishing at La Rochelle. The inspiration for the trip came from Peter’s 25 year old niece who had experienced heart problems. Her care from the GUCH (Grown Up’s Congenital Heart unit) which is part of Great Ormond Street was so impressive that Peter wanted to do something to support the hospital. He raised an

amazing £780 for the charity.

John undertook the popular London to Paris route and by his own admission had not done enough training before he left. It is unlikely that any amount of training however, would have prepared him for enduring the hottest week on record, with constant temperatures of over 30 degrees!

John successfully completed his journey at the Eiffel tower, which he promptly climbed to celebrate. He also collected £1200 for his nominated charity; Action Medical Research which provides funding for research into premature births.

Both John and Peter must be ‘gluttons for punishment’as well as superheroes, as both say they would do the challenges again!

Hytek can be found online at www.hytekgb.com

PFS launch dynamic website catalogue to the fuel station industry

PFS, supplier of fuel installation packages and service equipment are proud to offer a dynamic web site based purchasing and technical catalogue. This catalogue has been designed to make the purchasing of fuel station spares and installation material simple, secure and traceable.

By logging on to the site orders can be created, viewed and saved, giving a safe and secure ordering system that can be viewed at the touch of a button. All items within the catalogue are illustrated for easy identification and can be used, if required, to send to colleagues and clients to clarify their requests and specifications. Once registered, it is possible to create a favourite page that can be built over a period of time, and customised to suit individual requirements. Secure payment for the goods can also be made by credit card or approved trade account simply by logging on and entering a valid user ID & password.

PFS believe that there are distinct advantages to all businesses by adopting this type of dynamic web facility, as ordering on line gives an auditable record to meet the requirements of quality management systems.

For a practical view of this facility please visit www.pfsfueltec.com

LPGas Assoc - Filling of user owned/user refillable LPG cylinders at autogas refilling points

In July 2002 the Association issued a notice to all Full Members and Autogas Converters relating to ECE67-01 "cylinders".

We have since become aware that pimarked cylinders in accordance with the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive are being supplied to the private consumer market with the advice that they can be filled at Autogas refilling points.

At its meeting on 9th December the Associations Technical Management Committee confirmed its view that whilst supply is lawful, cylinder filling at Autogas filling points is not.

It is the TMC's view that UK Health and Safety law, particularly the new Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) and the Transportable Pressure Vessels Regulations, impose significant duties on the site operator to ensure safety. Autogas filling points are places of work and their personnel have responsibility for safety to everyone on the site, including the general public. They authorise the flow of gas from the dispenser and they may be considered, in law, the filler.

Safe filling of LPG cylinders requires appropriate expertise and/or equipment. Staff at Autogas filling points cannot fulfill statutory obligations as they have neither.

Were there to be any accident the site operator could be liable to prosecution.

Consequently, the TMC confirms its advice that cylinders should not be filled or permitted to be filled at autogas refilling points.

OPW Fueling Components announces the acquisition of Environ Holdings

OPW Fueling Components, one of the global leaders in commercial and retail fueling equipment announced that it has successfully completed the acquisition of Environ Holdings

News of the acquisition was released during the opening hours of the industry’s largest tradeshow & exposition, the NACS Show 2006 sponsored by the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) held in Las Vegas, Nevada. “It’s exciting to consider the breath of solutions and possibilities that will result from the union of the two leading companies in environmental products,” stated Environ CEO, Mike Webb. “We believe this union creates the kind of dynamic organization that’ll have a tremendous positive and beneficial impact on the industry and protection of the environment, greater than what either company could have had independent of one another”. Environ,