Would you like to learn more about the hazard labelling requirements
for handling hazardous chemicals in hazardous atmospheres?
Please read on...
for handling hazardous chemicals in hazardous atmospheres?
Please read on...
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#Health #Safety #PreventionIsBetterThanCure
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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
Most people know cigarettes contain benzene (a known Group-1 human carcinogen). But many don’t realise that an ordinary vehicle refuelling stop can also lead to benzene uptake - through skin contact with petrol and inhalation of petrol fumes.
Remember, petrol is itself now classified by the IARC as a Group-1 human carcinogen.
Illustrative comparison (typical conditions) based on published data:
1. Small contact = Noticeable Benzene Absorption
Even a tiny splash - just 1 ml of petrol - contains measurable benzene. Petrol is typically limited to no more than 1% benzene by volume, and scientific dermal‑absorption studies show that while most benzene evaporates, a small but significant portion can still enter the skin.
Based on these studies, the benzene absorbed from 1 ml of petrol on the skin can be roughly equivalent to the amount absorbed from smoking around 1 cigarette (≈ 25 µg benzene).
2. Fumes You Breathe In = Additional Exposure
Benzene is efficiently absorbed through the lungs - ~50% of inhaled benzene enters the bloodstream.
A typical refuelling event naturally brings a person closer to the filling point, where vapour concentrations can be highest. Even with vapour recovery, conditions can easily occur where the benzene absorbed via inhalation also approximates the benzene absorption from smoking around 1 cigarette.
Remember, petrol is itself now classified by the IARC as a Group-1 human carcinogen.
Illustrative comparison (typical conditions) based on published data:
1. Small contact = Noticeable Benzene Absorption
Even a tiny splash - just 1 ml of petrol - contains measurable benzene. Petrol is typically limited to no more than 1% benzene by volume, and scientific dermal‑absorption studies show that while most benzene evaporates, a small but significant portion can still enter the skin.
Based on these studies, the benzene absorbed from 1 ml of petrol on the skin can be roughly equivalent to the amount absorbed from smoking around 1 cigarette (≈ 25 µg benzene).
2. Fumes You Breathe In = Additional Exposure
Benzene is efficiently absorbed through the lungs - ~50% of inhaled benzene enters the bloodstream.
A typical refuelling event naturally brings a person closer to the filling point, where vapour concentrations can be highest. Even with vapour recovery, conditions can easily occur where the benzene absorbed via inhalation also approximates the benzene absorption from smoking around 1 cigarette.
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3. Combined Effect: A Typical Refuel ≈ 2 'Cigarettes’ Worth of Benzene Absorption
When you combine the potential for:
Even a miniscule 0.1 ml droplet of petrol on the skin equates to the benzene dose equivalent of 'a drag on a fag'! 4. Higher Exposures Are Common Without Realising It Exposure may be higher if:
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5. Protect Yourself at the Pump
Because benzene can be absorbed through both skin and lungs, the safest approach during refuelling is simple:
Why this matters
When someone chooses to smoke, the cancer risks are obvious. But during refuelling, even with CMR/CLP health hazard labels, most don’t realise how much benzene exposure can occur in a short routine task.
Refuelling once per week: their annual benzene exposure could accumulate to the equivalent of ~100 cigarettes.
That’s roughly ~5 packs (of 20 cigarettes) worth of benzene-equivalent absorbed dose — for someone who has chosen not to smoke.
Because benzene can be absorbed through both skin and lungs, the safest approach during refuelling is simple:
- Use PPE compliant for the residual risks: Static-dissipative in potentially explosive atmospheres; protection from residue or incidental splashes.
- Avoid inhaling close to the nozzle - stand slightly back and stay upwind if possible.
Why this matters
When someone chooses to smoke, the cancer risks are obvious. But during refuelling, even with CMR/CLP health hazard labels, most don’t realise how much benzene exposure can occur in a short routine task.
Refuelling once per week: their annual benzene exposure could accumulate to the equivalent of ~100 cigarettes.
That’s roughly ~5 packs (of 20 cigarettes) worth of benzene-equivalent absorbed dose — for someone who has chosen not to smoke.
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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Consumer and worker safety when refuelling is easy to get right,
but what can happen if it's done wrong?
but what can happen if it's done wrong?
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May 2024:
Exxon is hit with $725 million verdict over carcinogen in gasoline https://www.reuters.com/legal/exxon-hit-with-7255-million-verdict-over-mechanics-leukemia-diagnosis-2024-05-10/ "Following the trial that lasted just over a week, the jury found Exxon liable for negligently failing to warn about the health risks of benzene, which the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) has classified as a known carcinogen. The entire verdict was in compensatory damages, according to Gill's attorneys." "This verdict is important because it’s a finding that their gasoline causes cancer," said Patrick Wigle, an attorney for Gill, in a statement. "ExxonMobil has known for decades that benzene causes cancer, yet they resisted warning the public and taking basic precautions to warn the public and limit exposure." September 2024: Judge rejects Exxon's challenge to $725 million benzene verdict, adding $91m in delay damages https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2024/09/16/793075.htm The Court denied all of ExxonMobil's post-trial motions and added over $90 million in delay damages, to bring the total award to just under $816 Million. "The denial of the post-trial motions reinforces the jury's determination that ExxonMobil must be held responsible for causing Mr. Gill's injuries," said Andrew DuPont, a partner with Locks Law Firm. "It's important that we continue to fight to bring to light the cancer hazard of exposure to benzene in gasoline". |
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What Drivers Are Really Touching
Fuel pump handles can be toxic, carcinogenic, and biologically contaminated.
Fuel pump handles can be toxic, carcinogenic, and biologically contaminated.
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1) Chemical Contamination
Every day in the UK alone:
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Hazard Labelling Regulations
In United Nations countries, there are specific laws to warn, inform, instruct and protect both consumers and workers in universally standardised and specific ways. For the labelling of hazardous chemicals in Europe and GB, these laws are the EU CLP and GB CLP Regulations respectively [in the USA, this is regulated by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)]. These labels contain the official signal words, hazard pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements and other obligatory details. Petrol and diesel have their classified health hazards detailed in the EU 'Harmonised Classification' index, or GB 'Mandatory Classification and Labelling (MCL) index. For petrol (gasoline) and diesel fuels, these are indexed as follows:
and:
As stated within the introductory text on the HSE's MCL website:
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When did the CLP Regulation originally come into force?
The CLP became law in both the EU and GB from 1st June 2015 for hazardous substances, and from 1st June 2017 for hazardous mixtures. While the UK was part of the EU, the UK Parliament made the CLP law with the 2015 Statutory Instrument 2015 #21. At this point Parliament also produced an 'Explanatory Memorandum', stating within this legislative context:
Key articles relevant to fuel labels within the original CLP (applicable to both EU and GB laws) Article 17 - General rules for content of the label... Refers to content/size/formatting of label elements (specific hazard pictograms, signal words, hazard/precautionary statements/codes etc). |
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Article 25 - supplemental information on the label...
Ensures supplemental information:
Article 31 - General rules for application of the label... Location/placement of labels; referring to label elements required by Article 17 and specific formatting detailed in Annex-I (1.2.1). Article 48 - Advertisement... "Any advertisement for a mixture classified as hazardous", "shall mention the type or types of hazard indicated on the label." Annex-I (1.2.1) - General rules for the application of labels required by Article 31... Contains specific label formatting details. |
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Question for fuel retailers / distributors / end users:
Are the CLP labels for your fuels currently missing, overlooked, or are adverts/promotions being displayed in the place of than the statutory CLP hazard labels? Contact us to learn how we can quickly fix this to protect you, your staff and your customers.
Are the CLP labels for your fuels currently missing, overlooked, or are adverts/promotions being displayed in the place of than the statutory CLP hazard labels? Contact us to learn how we can quickly fix this to protect you, your staff and your customers.
2) Biological contamination
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Would you hold someone else's nozzle?
Kimberley Clark Professional carried out research into the most unhygienic surfaces we touch. Travel Company Busbud carried out a similar study. Right at the top of the list is the fuel pump handle (along with the fuel pump ATM-style buttons used to select fuel and pay at the pump) with over 70% of handles carrying the germs which pose a high risk of developing a serious illness. Fuel pump handles are shown to be 11,000 times more contaminated with bacteria and viruses than a toilet seat! These germs aren't the friendly ones either - 50% are termed 'Gram-Positive Cocci' which threaten skin conditions, toxic shock, and even illnesses becoming resistant to antibiotics, such as pneumonia (a notifiable disease). |
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Even Electric Vehicle (EV) charger handles are shown to be highly contaminated. However, in addition to being contaminated with the similar types of harmful bacteria and viruses as fuel nozzles, EV charger handles are also contaminated with yeast and fungal organisms (think warts and verrucas!).
For this level of risk to health, prevention is far better than attempting to clean your skin after contact. You will never look at a fuel pump handle or EV charger handle in the same way again. |
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Remember:
- The surface is only as clean as the last person that touched/contaminated it
- Sanitisers have been shown through many studies to not only be harmful to your own health, but more severely to your children under 12 and pets
- It is simply impractical for drivers to wash their hands before and after filling up, and unsustainable for staff to clean fuel-nozzles frequently enough
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Aside from labelling and PPE regulation compliance, remember, when a consumer handles your fuel dispensing equipment to refuel, this is their first and most important interaction with the forecourt, setting the tone for their customer journey and experience.
With GripHero's regulation-compliant hazard signage, labelling and 'always-available', ATEX-Certified, anti-static ATEX Safety-Gloves protecting consumers in ATEX Zone-1 (the Fuelling Zone), GripHero makes it very quick, easy and inexpensive to:
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Empty safety-glove dispensers and non-compliant hazard signage and labelling leaves petrol stations non-compliant to sell fuels to consumers, and open and vulnerable to litigation and insurance complications.
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For example:
In the UK, key consumer safety law references include the detail within fuel Safety Data Sheets, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) Regulations, GB CLP Regulations, Consumer Protection Act, General Product Safety Regulations, The PPE Regulation, Health & Safety at Work Act and the Occupier's Liability Act. In Northern Ireland, the key Consumer Safety Law references used include fuel Safety Data Sheets, CoSHH Regulations, EU CLP Regulations, The PPE Regulation, and the Health & Safety at Work Order. In the Republic of Ireland, key Consumer Safety Law references used include fuel Safety Data Sheets, Statutory Instrument #122 of 2024 (Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Regulations 2024), EU CLP Regulations, The PPE Regulation, HSA Explosive Atmospheres at Places of Work, and the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act. In the USA, the key Consumer Safety Law referencing the handling of fuels is the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (part of the Consumer Product Safety Commission). In particular, with reference to Part 1500.14 - Products requiring special labelling under 3(b) or the act, and Part 1500.127 - Substances with multiple hazards. |
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A user suffering harm/fuel contamination/exposure at the pumps, and simply documenting empty safety-glove dispensers and non-compliant hazard labels, has all the evidence needed for submitting a no-win-no-fee Personal Injury Claim.
Therefore, regulation-compliant labels and consumer Safety-Gloves should be high on the priority list of daily forecourt operations. However, many fuel operators have both shown and told us that these two consumer safety aspects have historically been at the bottom of their operational priorities. Interestingly, we have also been shown why this low prioritisation to consumer safety on fuel stations has historically been the case. Let's see why... Many fuel operators rely on assessments and inspections against the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR). However, DSEAR specifically excludes these two elements of consumer safety, as stated in DSEAR Section 4, Paragraphs 1(a) and (b). Here, duties including PPE, information and instruction "shall not extend to persons who are not his employees". The duties for the provision of PPE, information and instruction to consumers is actually governed by the CoSHH, CLP and PPE Regulations, the Consumer Protection Act, and the General Product Safety Regulations. However, fuel stations, despite being hazardous environments selling hazardous chemicals, do not traditionally have assessments and inspections against these regulations. |
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Did you know...?
Facemasks DON'T work against respiratory viruses... but hand hygiene does !! 2023 Cochrane Study TITLE: Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses BACKGROUND: The well renowned Cochrane Research Body recently published a wide-reaching study - looking at 78 Randomised Control Trials (RCT's) from across the globe, involving over 600,000 participants. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of various physical interventions (such as facemasks and hand hygiene) to interrupt or reduce the spread of acute respiratory viruses, such as Influenzas and Coronaviruses (those viruses seen as likely to trigger the 'next' pandemic). CONCLUSION:
SUMMARY: This study shows that, in terms of reducing risk of contracting Acute Respiratory Illnesses (ARI)...
In essence, if you are looking to prepare for the next pandemic or epidemic (whether an 'airborne' or 'contact' pathogen), gloves to prevent surface contact transmission is the key; facemasks do almost nothing. |
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