Page 1074 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 398

20 February 2014

Filling Station Drive Off

At our health & safety awareness day in January, we shared a number of case studies where people had
been injured by motorists on filling stations and reinforced our policy to defensively park vans and put
them in the way of the worker and the likely traffic flow wherever possible. We also urged that as part
of our LMRA, we consider the unexpected.

st
On 31 January 2014, a man, who drove his car into a petrol station manager, carrying him on the
bonnet for nearly half a mile in West Kingsdown, Kent was sentenced by a judge at Maidstone Crown
Court to 11 years imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 15 years for causing grievous bodily
harm with intent.

The incident happened on 31 July 2013 and the victim was carried on the bonnet at speeds of over 30
miles an hour, calculated from CCTV footage and sustained serious head injuries after falling from the
car.

The petrol station attendant had been unable to see the car licence plate, which had been altered with
black tape to disguise its identity, so tried to stop the theft by standing in front of the car. He bravely
stood his ground in front of the car as the thief revved the engine and lurched forwards towards him,
scooping him up onto the bonnet and driving off, swerving the vehicle and punching the attendants
hand through the open driver’s door window as he clung to the front of the car. The attendant fell from
the car, when it turned into a side road at speed.

This isn’t the sort of behaviour that one would expect on a petrol forecourt, but it did happen and could
happen again on any site that we are working on. Violence is also an increasing risk from angry
motorists who may not be able to get to the dispenser in the area you are working in.

Please take a few minutes to assess the worst that could happen on a site when you are setting up your
barriers and always use the van as your main line of defence when you are able to. If someone is in a
hurry to get off the site, is on drugs or have been drinking, they won’t be considering your welfare and
this practice could save your life. If you want to refresh the message, please click on the following link:

http://www.xmostrata.com/videos/training_video_series1.php

We are all a product of learning. Every skill we have; everything we know; everything we believe and everything we do has
been learned throughout the course of our lives. Some of us learn best by studying graphs and charts, some through visual
presentations, and some by reading detailed text books. It is important that we receive information in a format that works
for us as individuals! That’s why at Xmo Strata we use a variety of communication platforms such as bulletins, newsletters,
videos etc. However, if you feel there is a better way for us to share health and safety information, please let us know.
Ultimately, your safety is in your hands – but we will do all we can to keep you well informed!