Health and Safety Regulation at Petrol Filling Stations from 01/01/2015 to Date
Case reference FOI2026/02272
Received 17 September 2026
Published 2 October 2026
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request the following recorded information for the period 1 January 2015 to the date of this request.
This request concerns health and safety regulation at petrol filling stations, retail fuel forecourts and petrol dispensing premises, with particular regard to:
• the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH);
• the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA); and
• exposure to petrol and its hazardous constituents arising from fuel storage, dispensing and refuelling activities.
For the purposes of this request, “interventions” means health and safety inspections, visits, audits, investigations or other regulatory interventions.
Where information requested below is not held or is not separately recorded, please state this rather than estimating a figure.
1. Enforcing authority
Please confirm which enforcing authority is responsible, within the geographic area covered by your authority/service, for enforcement of COSHH and other general health and safety legislation in relation to the normal operation of retail petrol filling stations.
Where this function is exercised by a particular department or service within your authority, please identify that department or service where known.
If this responsibility rests with another public authority, please identify that authority where known.
2. Health and safety interventions
Please provide the number of health and safety interventions undertaken by your authority/service at petrol filling stations, retail fuel forecourts or petrol dispensing premises during the requested period.
3. COSHH consideration
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show that COSHH compliance was considered.
If COSHH would normally form part of a generic health and safety inspection but your authority does not separately record whether it was considered during individual interventions, please state this.
4. Petrol-specific COSHH or hazardous-substance assessment
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show that an inspector requested, examined or reviewed a dutyholder's COSHH assessment or other hazardous-substance risk assessment relating specifically to petrol, motor-fuel dispensing or refuelling activities.
5. Exposure to petrol and hazardous substances
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show specific consideration of exposure to one or more of the following:
• petrol vapour;
• petrol liquid, splash or residue;
• benzene; or
• other hazardous substances associated with petrol dispensing or refuelling.
6. Routes of exposure
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show specific consideration of each of the following routes of exposure associated with petrol dispensing or refuelling:
• inhalation;
• skin/dermal contact; and
• ingestion.
7. Persons potentially exposed
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show consideration of exposure affecting each of the following groups:
• employees of the forecourt operator;
• contractors or other persons working at the premises;
• persons refuelling vehicles as part of their work or employment; and
• customers or other members of the public.
8. Exposure controls and adequate control
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show specific consideration of:
• measures used to prevent or control exposure to petrol or its hazardous constituents;
• whether exposure was adequately controlled for the purposes of COSHH; and/or
• requirements or control measures associated with carcinogenic or mutagenic substances, including benzene.
9. Enforcement action
During the requested period, please provide the number of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices issued by your authority at petrol filling stations, retail fuel forecourts or petrol dispensing premises which cited or related to:
• COSHH;
• hazardous-substance risk assessment;
• petrol or benzene exposure;
• petrol vapour exposure;
• skin/dermal exposure to petrol;
• exposure monitoring; or
• health surveillance.
10. Inspection guidance and procedures
Please confirm whether your authority/service holds or has used during the requested period any inspection guidance, procedures, checklists, aide-memoires, training materials, enforcement guidance, HSE guidance or other operational documents specifically concerning COSHH compliance or health risks associated with petrol or motor-fuel dispensing at retail fuel forecourts.
If such material is held, please identify its title, date and/or brief description where readily available.
11. DSEAR / fire and explosion risk
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show that compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), or fire and explosion risks associated with petrol storage or dispensing, was considered.
If DSEAR enforcement relating to petrol dispensing at retail filling stations is undertaken by a separate Petroleum Enforcement Authority (PEA) or other public body, please state this and identify the relevant authority where known.
Where responsibility for any of the requested information rests with another public authority, please identify that authority where known.
Response
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request the following recorded information for the period 1 January 2015 to the date of this request.
This request concerns health and safety regulation at petrol filling stations, retail fuel forecourts and petrol dispensing premises, with particular regard to:
• the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH);
• the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA); and
• exposure to petrol and its hazardous constituents arising from fuel storage, dispensing and refuelling activities.
For the purposes of this request, “interventions” means health and safety inspections, visits, audits, investigations or other regulatory interventions.
Where information requested below is not held or is not separately recorded, please state this rather than estimating a figure.
1. Enforcing authority
Please confirm which enforcing authority is responsible, within the geographic area covered by your authority/service, for enforcement of COSHH and other general health and safety legislation in relation to the normal operation of retail petrol filling stations.
Where this function is exercised by a particular department or service within your authority, please identify that department or service where known.
If this responsibility rests with another public authority, please identify that authority where known.
Answer: The Service Area have advised Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service is responsible for Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974, at petrol dispensing premises. The Site Operator is responsible for COSHH.
2. Health and safety interventions
Please provide the number of health and safety interventions undertaken by your authority/service at petrol filling stations, retail fuel forecourts or petrol dispensing premises during the requested period.
Answer: Health & Safety interventions at petrol stations between 2015 – 24/09/2026 = 0.
(Please be advised, 4 visits were undertaken however none of these 4 visits involved anything to do with COSHH, petrol etc.; they were for things like trip hazard, vehicle movement, LPG tank protection from collision and poor lighting at the jet wash.)
Petroleum Inspections between 2015 – 24/09/2026 = 179
3. COSHH consideration
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show that COSHH compliance was considered.
If COSHH would normally form part of a generic health and safety inspection but your authority does not separately record whether it was considered during individual interventions, please state this.
Answer: 179. The Service Area have advised COSHH is primarily concerned with risk to health from hazardous substances all aspects of which are carried out in a petroleum inspection. The site operator is responsible for implementing measures to minimise such risks.
4. Petrol-specific COSHH or hazardous-substance assessment
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show that an inspector requested, examined or reviewed a dutyholder's COSHH assessment or other hazardous-substance risk assessment relating specifically to petrol, motor-fuel dispensing or refuelling activities.
Answer: This information is not held. The Service Area have advised any internal, or external risk assessment carried out by an independent company is reviewed upon a petroleum inspection.
5. Exposure to petrol and hazardous substances
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show specific consideration of exposure to one or more of the following:
• petrol vapour;
• petrol liquid, splash or residue;
• benzene; or
• other hazardous substances associated with petrol dispensing or refuelling.
Answer: This information is not held.
6. Routes of exposure
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show specific consideration of each of the following routes of exposure associated with petrol dispensing or refuelling:
• inhalation;
• skin/dermal contact; and
• ingestion.
Answer: This information is not held.
7. Persons potentially exposed
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show consideration of exposure affecting each of the following groups:
• employees of the forecourt operator;
• contractors or other persons working at the premises;
• persons refuelling vehicles as part of their work or employment; and
• customers or other members of the public.
Answer: This information is not held.
8. Exposure controls and adequate control
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show specific consideration of:
• measures used to prevent or control exposure to petrol or its hazardous constituents;
• whether exposure was adequately controlled for the purposes of COSHH; and/or
• requirements or control measures associated with carcinogenic or mutagenic substances, including benzene.
Answer: This information is not held. The Service Area have advised measures to prevent exposure are examined during a petroleum inspection.
9. Enforcement action
During the requested period, please provide the number of Improvement Notices and Prohibition Notices issued by your authority at petrol filling stations, retail fuel forecourts or petrol dispensing premises which cited or related to:
• COSHH;
• hazardous-substance risk assessment;
• petrol or benzene exposure;
• petrol vapour exposure;
• skin/dermal exposure to petrol;
• exposure monitoring; or
• health surveillance.
Answer: 0 notices issued.
10. Inspection guidance and procedures
Please confirm whether your authority/service holds or has used during the requested period any inspection guidance, procedures, checklists, aide-memoires, training materials, enforcement guidance, HSE guidance or other operational documents specifically concerning COSHH compliance or health risks associated with petrol or motor-fuel dispensing at retail fuel forecourts.
If such material is held, please identify its title, date and/or brief description where readily available.
Answer: Please see the attached Inspection of Petrol Filling Stations form.
The Service Area have advised they also use the following:
• Hardcopy of APEA/IP Code of practice for the design, construction and operation of petrol filling station – purchased from HSE books
• HSE resources publically available on the HSE website which can be viewed via the following link:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg216.htm
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
11. DSEAR / fire and explosion risk
Of the interventions identified in Question 2, please provide the number for which your authority's records show that compliance with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR), or fire and explosion risks associated with petrol storage or dispensing, was considered.
If DSEAR enforcement relating to petrol dispensing at retail filling stations is undertaken by a separate Petroleum Enforcement Authority (PEA) or other public body, please state this and identify the relevant authority where known.
Where responsibility for any of the requested information rests with another public authority, please identify that authority where known.
Answer: 179. The Service Area have advised DSEAR measures are primarily concerned with prevention of fire and explosion. All aspects are examined during a petroleum inspection. The site operator is responsible for implementing measures to minimise such risks.
Documents
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