CHAPTER ONE 1.

0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Fire is a spectacular example of a fast chemical reaction (oxidation) between a combustible substance and oxygen accompanied by the evolution of heart. The control of fire provided man with his first means of advancement. It broadened his food choice by enabling him to cook, it widened his living range by providing him with an external source of heat, it improved his tools by permitting him to extract and work with metals and it lengthened his day by giving him a source of light. Primitive man used fire and worshipped it but he also went in fear and dread of its destructive nature. Fire is the most destructive, disruptive and costly cause of damage to buildings, filling stations and other property. A fire represent probably the single most catastrophic event that any establishment is likely to experience and in addition carried with it risks to the safety, well-being and potentially, the lives of its occupant. Historically, workplace fire has been one of the leading causes of work injury and death, killing ov7er 200 and injuring over 5,000 workers each year (OSHA, 2000). The effect can be severe, leading to emotional trauma, financial hardship, and tragic loss for workers and their families. Fire is often caused by momentary act of carelessness or failure to take account of obvious hazards. This chapter focuses on fire safety and prevention; you will gain a working knowledge of fire safety basic such as communication strategies, the general purpose of fire equipment, and emergency response procedures, as well as fire prevention measures.

Petrol filling stations are particularly hazardous workplaces which are required to be licensed because they store and sell a highly flammable liquid. The following details highlight some hazards, which may exist, other than those controlled by the license condition. They are by no means exhaustive and will vary depending on your own particular business. As a starting point use the blank sheet provided in this pack and carry out a simple risk assessment. To control and manage the risk associated with such places, it is necessary to design and appropriate risk assessment system, so that the levels of risk would be assessed and a desired systematic controlling program would be organized. In a report released from crown HSE in 2002, some stages have been mentioned for primary study of the level of risk from hazardous material (Coshh, 2002). The primary stage is the study of petrol station (Bateman, 2006) in a report released by British Ministry of defense in 1996, conditioning of the tanks in which hazardous materials are stored were mentioned and their establishment are discussed (HSMO, 1996). Fire risk assessment is a management tool which helps the managers in their decision making process. In the model presented by Sui in 2007, factors, including fire spread, use of fire extinguishing and fire alert, fire load and temperature increase in the fire, considered to be effective in the fire risk assessment (Sui, 2007). In a paper presented by Smolin and Kirillov (2007), the importance of risk assessment is mentioned in places where a large amount of fuel is stored. Fires and burn injuries have taken a toll on human existence since Prometheus gave the gift of flame to Motel mortal man, without question. One of the most powerful tools in our history, fire nonetheless leaves it scars. Whereas it is

reported that worldwide in 2002, burn injuring and smoke inhalation were responsible for over 322,000 deaths. These data are likely to reflect a gross underestimate. There are no valid, comprehensive statistics being consistently collected by developing countries, even Nigeria. Reference to July vanguard newspaper dated 27/2011 by Armstrong Bakam at about 12:43 am; there was a mild drama Tuesday when some youth attacked men of the Bauchi State fire service who came to put out the fire that engulfed a filling station, A.A. Rano Nigeria Limited, located on Yakubun Bauchi Road in the State Capital, condemning them for coming with only one truck of water. According to the petrol attendant at the station, Iliyasu Nasiru, the fire started when an articulated truck (tanker), with registration number, Yobe A.A. 692 GDM, caught fire while offloading it content. According to him, the tanker had earlier in the morning offloaded some of its content in a part of the station, but when it came back to discharge the remaining content in the evening at around 6:30pm, it caught fire, which eventually spread to the lubrication bay and supermarket in the station, Thursday, December 09, 2010 in Lagos. The burden of suffering from five is exceedingly distributed among the poor. over 98% of deaths from fire and burns occur in developing nations, which are least able to provide the resources for care or the community support for rehabilitation. The rate at which developing nations will acquire experienced personal and modern facilities for burn care will lag behind their general socioeconomic development. Over the centuries, the use of simple appliances such as stoves and lamps has resulted in inestimable damage to persons and property.

This is largely a result of overcrowded and substandard living conditions; faulty design, improper use of the device, ignorance, inexperience, intoxication or carelessness. The flammability of fuel types varies greatly. For instance, ethanol has a low flash point (the lowest temperature at which a flammable fuel forms an ignitable mixture with oxygen) but kerosene has a higher flash point. This variability could add to the inherent dangers because most developing countries do not have regulated infrastructures in place dealing with fuel integrity, specifically whether the fuel has been contaminated with another types of fuel. This aspect can dramatically change the fuels chemical properties and therefore its functionality and effect on unsuspecting consumers. This project work provides an overview of the depth and breadth of the problems connected with safety in our filling station. 1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To find out the level of preparedness, the Filling stations have in respect of fire detection and prevention. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS WERE TO 1. Studying and reviewing their preventing measures employed by filling station in preventing fire outbreak. 2. 1.4 To identify possible causes of fire outbreak in filling station. SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY techniques on various

This study will help to enhance fire fighting and prevention activities in petrol stations.

It will also crave the indulgence of the employers to see the need to put in place accident prevention techniques as it will help to reduce financial lost, which could occur in a process of paying compensations
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1.5

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This project work is limited to Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. (1) (2) (3) AP Filling Station by Refinery Junction.

Admus Petroleum Filling Station P.T.I. Road, Effurun. Conoil Filling Station opposite Wellington Hotel.

CHAPTER TWO 2.0 2.1 INTRODUCTION This project had led me to a literature review in fire and safety prevention techniques. Okabia et al (1998), defined literature review as a systematic and critical examination of what other writers or researchers have written on a particular topic that is related to ones area of study. Gag (1981) saw literature review as a systematic identification, location and analysis of documents containing information related to the research problem. The contents of a good literature review should cover the following issues amongst others (Yomere et al 1999). (a) (b) (c) (d) Theories that throw some light on the subject being investigated. The different aspects of the topic that have been studied so far. The different ways in which the relevant concepts have been operationalized. A critique of the existing studies in this chapter, an attempt will be made to examine literature that would be of utmost relevance to this project work. In doing this, I will be limited to the following in the following core area as earlier highlighted in our statement of problem and scope of the project work in chapter one previous research works carried out by various authors and experts will be examined as they related to the topic of this research work. 2.2 DEFINITION OF FIRE According to fundamentals of fire prevention by William K. Bare, Fire is a chemical reaction that occurs when the chemical structure of a fuel is broken by heat energy in the presence of oxygen. Fire can further be defined as a chemical reaction brought about by
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LITERATURE REVIEW

the presence of three elements together with chemical chain reaction fire, Referenced to (Coshh, 2002, by William K.Bare). In a report released from Crown HSE in 2002, some stages have been mentioned for primary study of the level of risk from hazardous material (Coshh, 2002). The primary stage is the study of neighboring places (Bateman, 2006). In a report released by British Ministry of Defense in 1996 condition of the tanks in which hazardous materials are stored were mentioned and their establishment is a management tool which helps the managers in their decision-making process. In the model presented by Sui in 2007 factors, including fire spread use of fire extinguishing and fire alert. Fire load and temperature increase in the fire. Considered to be affective in fire risk assessment (Sui et al, 2007). The important of risk assessment is mentioned in places where a large amount of fuel is stored. In this paper, important factors such as the state of fuel, transmission lines, fire extinguishing system (particularly Foam System) electricity system construction analysis of leaking fuels and safety valves in pipes and tanks were taken into consideration (Smolin and Kirillov, 2007). In the decision-making model provided for fire risk assessment based on the local inhabitant live that involved factors include automating fire extinguishing systems manual detector, sonar system specialist, fire fighters and smoke alarming system. in this study depending on how much these methods are used some scenarios have been prepared in which the time required for evacuation and the time needed for fire-fighting were determined and have been assessed (Chu et al, 2007). Hoiborn (2002) studied the use of statistic of accidents and fire occurred in previous years, as a proper method to specify the probability of fire accidents assessed in different locations with different land uses factors individual cautiousness level, usage, construction materials used in flooring, personal characteristics such as language, age,
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etc. can create errors in estimating the results which needs to be taken into consideration. This indicates that the order to assess the risk of fire correctly. All the effective factors on the intensity and the probability of fire accident should be considered. To assess the risk of fire in inflammable materials tanks, methods such as Hazop and Even Tree can be used (Hoiborn et al, 2002). In 2004, Barmatic and Libisova recommended Hazop and IAE ATEC DOC 727 using Event Tree Technique for assessing the risk of the fire in gasoline storage tanks (Barnatic and Libisova, 2004). Even Three method is used to assess in this method factors such as human errors, the stage of tanks, water pipes, vandalism, repair deficiencies, land uses for the area around the gas station and fire extinguishing system were considered (Melcher and Feutrill, 2001). 2.3 MATERIALS AND METHODS To assess the risk of fire in Filling Station, first by asking information from P.P.M.C. fire stations were sampled randomly. Fire Filling Station in Effurun was assessed. The entire station under the assessment was 59 (59%) of all action stations in Effurun to identify the existing risk and to conform that to associated standards a check list was used. William Fine and FMEA methods were used in which the ranking table 1 to 3. Based on effective parameters in fire risk assessment, risk assessment process in gas station is illustrated in figure 1 (Macintyre et al, 2007), (Bateman, 2006). According to the presented model (fig. 1) probability, intensity and fire detection are assessed by their parameters. Thus, those parameters, including the state of earth system could be evaluated based on concerned standards and finally the behaviour of the customers in smoking and using mobile phone was assessed. Value factors such as distance from the nearest fire station,

automatic fire extinguishing valve close to the Filling Station, suitability of manual fire fighting systems, and the location of the stations area were considered, and in case of any conformity with the standards. The resulting figures show the risk intensity rank. In the case of fire detection, parameters such as alarm system, suitability of alarming system, monitoring system for testing concentration of inflammable material and linking of the Filling Station to the fire brigades via internet were taken into consideration. It is necessary to mention that all the parameters net value are based on the received comments of related experts and the information collected from the petrol attendances, amount of final risk was calculated by multiplying three parameters of intensity, probability and detection by each other. 2.4 HAZARDS FROM PETROL STATION Petrol is a mixture of many organic substances and presents fire explosion, health and environment hazards. 2.4.1 FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS Petrol is a volatile liquid which gives off flammable vapour at every low temperature, down to about minus 400C. This vapour when mixed with [pvair in certain proportions forms a highly flammable atmosphere, which can burn or explode if ignited. 2.4.2 HOW TO MANAGE RISK IN PETROL FILLING STATION The words risk and hazard are given a precise meaning in law and in his guidance. It is impossible to explain what the term risk means without first understanding what a hazard is. A hazard is anything that can cause harm. Risk is the likelihood, great or small, that is person or persons may be harmed by the hazard. Activities involving petrol station are potentially hazard because the vapours given off by the substance are highly flammable and therefore easily ignited. In the case
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of petrol Filling Stations, the risks arising from petrol and who may be harmed are linked to the activity that is being carried on of the time. 2.4.3 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES You must have procedures for emergency situations and train any employees who will need to take action in an emergency. Emergency or shut down procedures, like any other kinds of operating instructions should be reviewed regularly and updated to reflect any changes. You will need to ensure that your emergency procedures work when called upon. As well as testing and maintaining equipment make sure people know and understand the procedures. Practice helps to do this if the response to an incident involves using of equipment, such as a fire extinguisher, employees expected to use it must be properly trained. 2.4.4 SAFETY METHOD STATEMENT One way of ensuring safe working at petrol station during construction or maintenance is to use a detailed safety method statement (SMS) for each particular task. This should identify the problems and solutions concerning the tasks. It is a useful tool for ensuring that work is carried out safely. An SMS can range from a simple statement to a detailed technical document depending on the scale of the task involved. The purpose of the SMS is to identify the hazard associated with each task and specify the necessary precautions to control them. Responsibility for drawing up the SMS lies with the contractor who should if necessary act in conjunction with you regarding site details specify precautions or specialist information the SMS should clearly show that all of the hazards have been identified and will be correctly dealt with (www.kidde -fire.com).

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2.5 KEY ACTIVITIES The following sub-section of this guidance document identify four key activities that takes place at petrol station, these are: (a) (b) (c) (d) Commissioning the petrol station Unloading and venting. Storage tank. Pipe work.

Commissioning: Is the process of bringing plant and equipment into use. Storage Tanks The integrity of each tank or compartment is its internal fillings (e.g. drop pipe overfill prevention device etc.) including the manhole and connections to it should be determined where possible before petrol is offloaded. This can include checking that monitoring systems are operating and testing tanks without monitoring system. The tanks manufacturer should provide a certificate of examination and testing carried out before the tank left the factory. 2.5.1 PIPE WORK New pipe work and joints should be tested before petrol is offloaded. Obtain information about the types of test that have been carried out and the results. Where double skin pipe work has been installed, check that tests on the monitoring to the manufacture instructions the contractors installing the pipe work should provide you with a certificate detailing the test method used and the result.

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CHAPTER THREE 3.0 3.1 METHODOLOGY

METHOD OF DATA SAMPLING

A request was sent to the under listed filling stations. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) A.P Filling Station by Refinery Junction. Best Petroleum Filling Station P.T.I., Effurun. Total Filling Station by Refinery Junction. Admus Petroleum Filling Station, P.T.I. Road. Conoil Filling Station opposite Wellington Hotel, Effurun.

3.1.1 METHOD OF DATA PRESENTATION A given research work must present data in such a way that readers of such work would find the gathered from the above stated sources would be presented in a tabular form. Also the use of pie-chart be utilized to present the data. After the check list was administered and appropriate information was obtained, the data was presented in a tabular form. 3.1.2 DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES Data become more meaningful and useful after it has recorded observation into descriptive statement and or inferences about relationships (Yomere G.O. and Agbonifoh, B.A. (1999). In computing the data in the table, percentages are use as the units of measurement.

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CHAPTER FOUR 4.0 4.1 RESULTS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The checklist below was prepared in accordance with compress and Natural Gas Guidelines for fuelling stations. Table 1: Admus Petroleum Filling Station P.T.I. Road (Section A) S/n 1. 2. 3. 4. Question Compliance Yes No 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100% 100% 0% 100% 100% 0% 0% 100% 100% 100%

No smoking sign posted in the filing station. Flammable liquid stored in approved container from combustible. No use of mobile phones while pumping of fuel to a vehicle. All vehicle engines should be switched off before selling of fuel to the vehicle. 5. All electrical equipment plug are in good condition. 6. Electrical equipment turned off when ot in use. FIRE AND LIFE PROTECTIONS SYSTEM 1. Fire detection alarm system tested regularly. 2. Fire equipment in proper location and undamaged. 3. Corridors and exit unobstructed. 4. Adequate lighting in corridors, exit and stairway. FIRE FIGHTING REQUIREMENT 1. Does the management train their workers on the use of fire extinguishers? 2. Is firefighting equipment conspicuously located. 3. Is firefighting equipment inspected and maintained in operatable condition at all time? 4. Are all portable extinguishers periodically inspected and maintained? 5. Where applicable, are alarm systems in place and operatable? 6. If warranted, is there a fire fighting brigade officer in place? 7. Are fire extinguishers well distributed? Table 2: AP Filling Station By Refinery Junction (Section B) S/n Question 1. 2. 3. No smoking sign posted in the filing station. Flammable liquid stored in approved container from combustible. No use of mobile phones while pumping of fuel to a vehicle.
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Compliance Yes No 100% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0%

4. 5. 6. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

All vehicle engine should be switched off before selling of fuel to the vehicle. All electrical equipment plug are in good condition. Electrical equipment turned off when ot in use. FIRE AND LIFE PROTECTIONS SYSTEM Fire detection alarm system tested regularly. Fire equipment in proper location and undamaged. Corridors and exit unobstructed. Adequate lighting in corridors, exit and stairway. FIRE FIGHTING REQUIREMENT Does the management train their workers on the use of fire extinguishers? Is firefighting equipment conspicuously located. Is firefighting equipment inspected and maintained in operable condition at all time? Are all portable extinguishers periodically inspected and maintained? Where applicable, are alarm systems in place and operatable? If warranted, is there a fire fighting brigade officer in place? Are fire extinguishers well distributed?

100% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% 100% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0%

0% 0% 0% 100% 100% 100% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100% 100%

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Table 3: Best Petroleum Filling Station Opposite PTI Effurun Section C s/n 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Question no smoking sign posted in the filing station. flammable liquid stored in approved container from combustible. no use of mobile phones while pumping of fuel to a vehicle. all vehicle engine should be switched off before selling of fuel to the vehicle. all electrical equipment plug are in good condition. electrical equipment turned off when ot in use. fire and life protections system fire detection alarm system tested regularly. fire equipment in proper location and undamaged. corridors and exit unobstructed. adequate lighting in corridors, exit and stairway. fire fighting requirement does the management train their workers on the use of fire extinguishers? is fire fighting equipment conspicuously located. is fire fighting equipment inspected and maintained in operatable condition at all time? are all portable extinguishers periodically inspected and maintained? where applicable, are alarm systems in place and operatable? if warranted, is there a fire fighting brigade officer in place? are fire extinguishers well distributed? Compliance yes No 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0% 100% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100% 100%

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Table 4: Total Filling Station by Refinery Junction Section D s/n 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Question No smoking sign posted in the filing station. Flammable liquid stored in approved container from combustible. No use of mobile phones while pumping of fuel to a vehicle. All vehicle engine should be switched off before selling of fuel to the vehicle. All electrical equipment plug are in good condition. Electrical equipment turned off when ot in use. Fire and life protections system Fire detection alarm system tested regularly. Fire equipment in proper location and undamaged. Corridors and exit unobstructed. Adequate lighting in corridors, exit and stairway. Fire fighting requirement Does the management train their workers on the use of fire extinguishers? Is fire fighting equipment conspicuously located. Is fire fighting equipment inspected and maintained in operatable condition at all time? Are all portable extinguishers periodically inspected and maintained? Where applicable, are alarm systems in place and operatable? If warranted, is there a fire fighting brigade officer in place? Are fire extinguishers well distributed? compliance yes no 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0% 0% 100% 100% 0% 100% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 100% 100% 100%

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Table 5: Conoil Filling Station Opposite Wellington Hotel Section E S/N 1. 2. 3. 4. Question No smoking sign posted in the filing station. Flammable liquid stored in approved container from combustible. No use of mobile phones while pumping of fuel to a vehicle. All vehicle engine should be switched off before selling of fuel to the vehicle. 5. 6. All electrical equipment plug are in good condition. Electrical equipment turned off when ot in use. 100% 100% 0% 0% Compliance Yes No 0% 100% 0% 0% 100% 0% 100% 100%

Fire and life protections system 1. 2. 3. 4. Fire detection alarm system tested regularly. Fire equipment in proper location and undamaged. Corridors and exit unobstructed. Adequate lighting in corridors, exit and stairway. 0% 0% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0% 0%

Fire fighting requirement 1. Does the management train their workers on the use of fire extinguishers? 2. 3. Is fire-fighting equipment conspicuously located Is fire-fighting equipment inspected and maintained in operatable condition at all time? 4. Are all portable extinguishers periodically inspected and maintained? 5. 6. 7. Where applicable, are alarm systems in place and operatable? If warranted, is there a fire fighting brigade officer in place? Are fire extinguishers well distributed? 0% 0% 0% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0% 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 100%

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4.2

DISCUSSION OF RESULT

From the result it is noticed that the response on section A1 (No smoking sign posted, it also show (100%) that most time inspection is been carried out by the management on the use of No smoking sign posted. A.2. Flammable liquid stored in approved container from combustible it was stored in a container (100%) ok A.3 No use of mobile phone while pumping of fuel to a vehicle, the result also show (100%) respondent are complying with the instruction. A.4 Vehicle engine should be switched off before selling of fuel to the vehicle. The result also show that the complier are (100%) cooperated with the instruction. A.5, the result also made it clear that all electrical equipment are in good condition (100%) of A.6 fig. 6. The result shows from the respondent that the electrical equipment is turned off when not in use before living the office. A.7 there is adequate light in the corridor ad exit stairways, the result show (100%) ok. A.8. Fig. 8 from the result show that all fire equipment are not in good position. A.9 from the result, the respondent show that the corridor and exit door are unobstructed from use (100%) OK A.10 fig. 10 adequate lighting in corridor exit stairways are very ok. Section B fig. 11, the respondent show that the management does not carried out training for their workers, B.2 fig. 12 fighting equipment conspicuously are not properly distributed because they should have put in fire extinguisher in every pump. B.3 the fire equipment are properly inspected, the result also show yes (100%) of proper maintenance are been carried out on it. B.4 fig. 14 Yes, they are periodically inspected and maintained (100%) Ok. B.5 fig. 15, where applicable, alarm system should be in place and operatable, the result also show that there is no alarm system in place in case of emergency.

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B.6 fig. 16, No, there is no fire fighting brigade in place. This also show the risk involved in petrol station, B.7 fig. 17, are fire extinguisher properly distributed, they are not distributed at all (0%) not properly done. All the results are (100%) percent ok apart from Conoil petrol station that does not have (No smoking sign post in place), every other ones are ok.

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CHAPTER FIVE 5.0 5.1 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

CONCLUSION

From the result, it is noticed that there is (100%) compliance with No smoking sign. Vehicle engine should be switched off before selling of fuel to their vehicle, which is because of the management enforcing fire safety rules and regulation and ensuring that the workers adhere to the rules and regulations laid down. Moreover, from the fire and life protection system compliance and fire fighting requirement, indicate that the management and staffs are trying their best to ensure that fire accident is reduce to the barest minimum in every department in the filling station. 5.2 RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that management should provide and train their workers properly on fire prevention, protection and fighting procedure. This will go a long way to save them from fire accident and reducing casualties and property damage. (1) Staff should be sent on regular safety training to keep them abreast with new techniques of fire accident prevention. (2) Safety programme should be conducted among the different departments so that award could be given to the department with the less numbers of accidents. (3) Staff should be sent on regular medical examination to find out disable member of staff e.g. poor eyesight. (4) Periodic inspection of extinguishers should be enforced to ensure their proper functioning at all times.

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(5)

Management should motivate their workers to perform their duties diligently and effectively by increasing their wages and other incentives like free medical facilities.

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REFERENCES Bernatik A. and Libisova M. (2004): Loss Prevention in Heavy Industry: Risk Assessment of Flarge Gas Holders, J. Loss Prevention, Proc, 17, 271 278. Hoiborn P.G., Molan P.F. Holt J. and Townsend N. (2002): Premises: Risk Data, Fire Safety J. 37, 303 327. Compress and Natural Gas (CNG) Guidelines for Fuelling Fires in Workplace

Stations.www.state.ma.us/doer/cng.2011. Coshh (2002): A Brief Guide to Regulations HSE Available from

http.//www.hse.gov.uk/pubas/indg 136.pdf. Melcers R.E. and Feutrill W.R. (2001): Risk Assessment of LP.G Automotive Refueling Facilities. Reliab. Eng. Systs. Safe 74, 283 290. Armstrong B. (2011): At www.cfoa.org.uk.com, Accessed 27th July, 2011. (www. Kidde-fire.com 2003) From the chief fire officers association.

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