BP can't put out signs to warn people of fuel spillages!!??.

[0l0dom0l0]

So, the story goes like this.

Apparently some idiot this morning managed to overfill their canister, pouring what looked like over a gallons worth of diesel all over the floor.

I pull up to the pump, luckily very slowly and put my foot down when I stop. Well I completely lost my footing on my right foot, the floor was like ice. On closer inspection I could see sand and underneath the sand was the classic rainbow we all know as diesel. I couldn't see it very well however as it was covered by the sand in places.

It was clear they were aware of the spillage by the fact sand had been put down. Anyway, after filling my bike I went into the station and asked if they perhaps could put a sign out just warning people (especially bikers) of the slippery surface. All it needs to say is 'Caution Fuel Spillage, Slippery Surface' or something similar.

Well, I originally said this to the cashier who then pointed in the direction of the manager and said to speak to her.

So in a friendly manner I approach her (she'd heard the rest of the conversation anyway) and put across my suggestion of putting the sign out. 'we can't do that she said' and upon questioning her as to why she said 'health and safety says we've accepted liability if we do that'.

The other cashier then said in the same way Tesco's won't put down grit if its snowy because they then know its a problem and are liable if someone falls over.

I'm appalled at this. It's ridiculous. In putting the sand down they've accepted liability anyway so I don't really see why putting a sign out to warn people of the danger and probably reduce the amount of people that cause damage on it is a problem.

What are people's thoughts ?
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[Im-a-Ridah]

This is what you get when you have a massive bureaucracy, it shouldn't come as any surprise to you TBH.

[Sam_Y_93]

That does seem ridiculous. Have said similar in my local esso and they were more than happy to go clear it up more thoroughly and put out a sign.
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[0l0dom0l0]

[chris-red]

I a bit of common sense your your part wouldn't go amiss, petrol stations are slippy because of the high likely hood of spills. Treat it as a hazard, you should be expecting it to be like that IMO. I'm always really careful coming in and the first half a mile after, incase I have anything contaminating my tyres.
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[shereen]

If I see sand on the floor of a petrol station, it straight away rings bells that there is most probably a fuel spillage.
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[0l0dom0l0]

I am always very careful when pulling up. Sand wasn't easy to see as the floor was wet and it was that weird yellowish/ sandy colour lol.

I also expect the floor to be slippery when putting my feet down but this was literally like an ice rink.
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CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[doggone]

It's actually a complete lie they use because they're too lazy to do it.
The imaginary court case would be interesting.

They've already shown they knew there was a spill by putting absorbent material on it - so how does adding a sign alter things exactly.

Same goes for snow-clearing - they can't be arsed so come up with the liability BS

[Im-a-Ridah]

I don't think expecting people to use their common sense is really a substitute for putting out a sign to give a warning, especially since they stick signs up warning about using mobile phones! One is a genuine hazard, and it's not the phones.

[0l0dom0l0]

[Pete.]

Sand isn't a proper abosorbant for a fuel spillage in any case. If you used it on any decent building site they'd have you off.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[0l0dom0l0]

[N cee thirty]

at college we use grit whenever diesel/petrol/oil has hit the floor,soon absorbs it.

shame there's soo many ambalance chasers about after a claim
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[Rogerborg]

It's vaguely possible that some labyrinthine court case backs her up, but it seems more likely that it's just gabblespeak from a semi-trained pointy-hair trying to end a conversation.

Do bear in mind though that the actual blame for the spillage lies with the individual that caused it.

That said, they've doubtless got signs up exhorting customers to report spillages, and putting the sand down would seem to scupper their "don't know, don't care" defence.

But to be sure, you'd have to drop your bike then see them in court. Chances are it'd be a small claim, and unless they've got a very clear precedent from a higher court, I can't see many Magistrates or Sheriffs swallowing "not our responsibility" line.
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[Acemastr]

I've noticed petrol stations seem to be getting worse... what pissed me off yesterday morning was some Tesco worker was cleaning the pump... he had a single cone in the middle of the lane to stop someone pulling in and running him over... but what did he have stuck in the cone?


He has taken the diesel pump out and put the end of the nozzle down the hole in the center of the cone........

I mean seriously... diesel doesn't evaporate... there is always loads of diesel left in the hose/nozzle and it's now on the floor...

felt like going over and slapping the fool.


</rant>
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[stinkwheel]

I think the environment agency AND the HSE would have plenty to say about a known fuel spill not having been cleared up promptly and properly.

I would be utterly amazed if BP don't have a written procedure in place for the action to be taken on being notified of a forecourt diesel spillage in the form of a COSHH assessment for the diesel and a written spills procedure. I'm willing to bet that procedure would not involve just throwing a handful of sand on it. It would most likely involve coning off the area, applying a suitable absorbent material in sufficient quantity to fully absorb the spill, removing the contaminated absorbent material and disposing of it in an appropriate manner.

In other words, you cone the bit off, dump cat litter on it, wait a few minutes, then sweep it up with a brush and shovel. Job done. No more fuel spill.

Incidentally, a friend of mine had an accident exiting a filling station where his bike slipped on a diesel spill, he fell off and was then hit by a car. The filling station were deemed to be fully liable and he received a five figure settlement for the damage to the bike and loss of earnings due to his injuries. The companies own CCTV footage made all the difference.
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[Im-a-Ridah]

Besides, as BP oil spills go, this one is insignificant. The last time they had one they filled a fat chunk of the Atlantic coast

[0l0dom0l0]

[stinkwheel]

[Martay]

I work at a well known petrol station, not the one named by the OP i might add.
If theres a spill, it IS cleaned up straight away. If not, then the area coned off. Its really not hard!
We dont have sand, but SpillAid!!! Its a real light white powder that gets everywhere!!
Id report it to H+S
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[Supermotard37...]

Martay, I work at asda and i just gotta tell you that i also think Spillaid is the shizz-nizz when it comes to cleaning up anything id say it works on 98 percent of the sorta shit we spill on a night at work ive got a bag of it wich my boss let me borrow Cough - Cough
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[Pete.]

[weasley]

If I were the OP I'd report it to BP. Most stations are franchises, not owned or operated by BP, so they'd be as interested as anybody in what goes on under their name.
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[Teflon-Mike]