GripHero : By far, the world's lowest cost (and most eco-friendly) Anti-Static PPE
Global experts in fuel handling safety for consumers and workers
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Breaking safety news from the IARC:
"Automotive gasoline causes cancer of the urinary bladder and acute myeloid leukaemia in adults." In March 2025, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reassessed and reclassified automotive gasoline as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) - the highest category, alongside asbestos and tobacco. IARC Monograph 138 concludes that, in adults, exposure to gasoline causes:
This upgrade reflects modern fuel formulations and decades of new peer-reviewed research, replacing the original 1988 assessment. Exposure can occur during refuelling via:
Web link: https://monographs.iarc.who.int/news-events/volume-138-automotive-gasoline-and-some-oxygenated-gasoline-additives/ |
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Why This Matters at the Pump
Have you noticed fuel vapour “shadows” when refuelling? Enjoyed the smell of petrol? These vapours contain hazardous compounds. Vapour recovery systems reduce risk - but do not eliminate exposure. Health hazard warning signs and labels exist to warn, inform, and instruct users about these risks, and the precautions to take. |
Refuelling exposure: the hidden "2-cigarette" benzene hit
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Most people wouldn’t dream of smoking two cigarettes while standing at the pump. Yet, the chemical reality of a typical refuelling event suggests they might be doing exactly that — without even knowing it.
The "Two-Cigarette" Reality Toxicological comparisons show that a refuelling stop can result in benzene absorption equivalent to smoking 2 cigarettes:
Even a miniscule 0.1 ml droplet of petrol on the skin equates to the benzene dose equivalent of 'a drag on a fag'! |
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Learn more
Health hazard labelling
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Regulatory Response
In 2024, following concerns over insufficient user protection, the EU Commission amended the EU Classification, Labelling & Packaging (CLP) Regulation, with key updates for label formatting. Key dates
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What warning signs are already required? |
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Safety Signage Compliance Under EC Directive 92/58/EEC (EU, UK & Ireland)
EC Directive 92/58/EEC establishes the minimum requirements for workplace safety and health signs across the EU, UK and Ireland.
These requirements are implemented through national laws across Europe, such as the Safety Signs & Signals Regulations in GB and Northern Ireland, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations in Ireland.
Use of Safety Signs for Hazardous Substances
Where operations involve potential exposure to hazardous substances or mixtures, Schedule 1 Part 2 (UK/NI) / Schedule 9 Part B (EU/Ireland) - supported by authority guidance (such as HSE Guidance L64 and HSA guidance) - requires the use of appropriate hazard and warning signs.
Part 3 (UK/NI) / Part C (EU/Ireland) further reinforces that CLP hazard signs must be applied to visible and accessible piping, including:
EC Directive 92/58/EEC establishes the minimum requirements for workplace safety and health signs across the EU, UK and Ireland.
These requirements are implemented through national laws across Europe, such as the Safety Signs & Signals Regulations in GB and Northern Ireland, and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations in Ireland.
Use of Safety Signs for Hazardous Substances
Where operations involve potential exposure to hazardous substances or mixtures, Schedule 1 Part 2 (UK/NI) / Schedule 9 Part B (EU/Ireland) - supported by authority guidance (such as HSE Guidance L64 and HSA guidance) - requires the use of appropriate hazard and warning signs.
Part 3 (UK/NI) / Part C (EU/Ireland) further reinforces that CLP hazard signs must be applied to visible and accessible piping, including:
- Valves
- Joints
- Filling points
- Other dangerous or exposure-risk locations
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Mandatory Placement Conditions
Safety warning signs must be positioned:
This ensures signage remains clearly visible, legible, and effective at the point of risk. Additional Legal Requirements (UK & Ireland)
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Protecting the Effectiveness of Safety Signs
- Signs at "dangerous points" (such as "filling points" and hazard interfaces) must be used only to convey the safety message specified in law.
- Non-safety materials or distractions must not be positioned near safety signage, as this can reduce visibility, impact, and legal compliance.
Classification Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation
While fuel operators display health hazard/carcinogen warnings (such as those governed by the CLP Regulation) as already required by the HSWA/CoSHH Regulation (and EU/US regional equivalents), many fuel retailers are opting in early to the new formatting. Annex-II (Special rules for labelling and packaging of certain substances and mixtures) of the EU CLP 2024 update includes additional context for fuel stations:
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Litigation & Insurance Reality
Recent cases confirm the financial consequences of failing to warn and protect:
- May 2024: Exxon hit with a $725m verdict for failing to warn about and protecting from the carcinogenic effects of benzene/gasoline
- Sept 2024: Verdict upheld; total damages increased to ~$816m
- October 2025: International insurers' public denial of cover for fuel exposure cases
Insurers and legal experts confirm the Group-1 reclassification of automotive gasoline/petroleum materially increases industry exposure to those failing to warn and protect users from known hazards.
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Even unresolved claims can impact:
Missing health hazard labels and empty PPE dispensers can also create clear, documented evidence for claims. |
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Legal Duty: Warn, Inform, Instruct & Protect
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Gasoline/petrol carries multiple official Category-1 hazards, including:
Every day:
Under the Health and Safety At Work Act, and regulations such as CoSHH (and EU equivalents such as CMR), where exposure to hazardous/carcinogenic chemicals is possible, operators/employers must provide:
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Insurers, underwriters and enforcers confirm these are placed as close as possible to the point of use, such as:
- Directly on the fuel pump nozzles
- Fuel Pump casing (adjacent to the nozzles) and facing the user
- Support pillars (where aligned closely to the pump nozzles) and facing the user
PPE compliance
PPE Regulations
Under the CoSHH Regulation (and EU CMR equivalents), where it is not possible to prevent exposure to a carcinogen, health hazard warnings and PPE must be provided.
When all engineering and operational control measures required by CoSHH and DSEAR assessments are already in place, CoSHH requires that the PPE is fit-for-purpose and in compliance with the PPE Regulation for the intended application.
For example, fuel-dispensing zones are classified as Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (such as ATEX Zones 0, 1 and 2).
One of GripHero’s performance attributes is the static-dissipative property of the material itself – demonstrating its ability not to accumulate and discharge static energy.
Under EU/GB PPE Regulations, enforcement authorities and insurers confirm:
Under the PPE Regulation it is a legal requirement to manufacture, distribute, and/or supply the correct PPE risk category for the intended application.
Under the CoSHH Regulation (and EU CMR equivalents), where it is not possible to prevent exposure to a carcinogen, health hazard warnings and PPE must be provided.
When all engineering and operational control measures required by CoSHH and DSEAR assessments are already in place, CoSHH requires that the PPE is fit-for-purpose and in compliance with the PPE Regulation for the intended application.
For example, fuel-dispensing zones are classified as Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (such as ATEX Zones 0, 1 and 2).
One of GripHero’s performance attributes is the static-dissipative property of the material itself – demonstrating its ability not to accumulate and discharge static energy.
Under EU/GB PPE Regulations, enforcement authorities and insurers confirm:
- Category-1 gloves (for minimal risk) are NOT suitable for this application
- PPE must meet the Annex-II Essential Health & Safety Requirements of the PPE Regulation
- PPE must be correctly risk-categorised by Notified Bodies
Under the PPE Regulation it is a legal requirement to manufacture, distribute, and/or supply the correct PPE risk category for the intended application.
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The right PPE
The CoSHH Regulations (Section 7: Prevention or control of exposure to substances hazardous to health), Paragraph 9 states: "Personal protective equipment provided by an employer in accordance with this regulation shall be suitable for the purpose and shall- (a) comply with any [legal requirement (The Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/390))] which is applicable to that item of personal protective equipment" |
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The wrong PPE
The 5 exclusive applications for Category-1 (minimum risk) PPE include:
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Why GripHero?
For over 8 years, GripHero has specialised in fuel-handling user safety, supporting:
GripHero provides:
By protecting users at the exact point of contact, GripHero helps:
- Fuel operators
- Insurers
- Legal teams
- Regulators
GripHero provides:
- Safety Signs / CLP / FHSA-compliant hazard labels
- CoSHH Compliant ATEX-certified anti-static safety gloves
- Fast, simple, low-cost implementation
- The lowest environmental footprint in its class
By protecting users at the exact point of contact, GripHero helps:
- Maintain insurance validity
- Reduce exposure to legal claims
- Ensure full regulatory compliance
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#CleanHands #IncreaseRevenue
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What our customers say
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What your customers say
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94% reduction to your environmental footprint
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GripHero efficiently dispenses
ultra-low-carbon anti-static ATEX Safety-Gloves at the exact point of consumer contact, directly from the nozzle...
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Please contact us directly to see how we can help you feel proud of safe and efficient forecourts
