Page 462 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 192

S Martin – 27 May 2010

Sharing Lesson Learnt – mobile phone on forecourt

Gigi Petane (an Xmo site surveyor) has reported a potential
incident that he feels others can learn from and has agreed to me
sharing.

Usually, when surveying a site, he leaves his mobile phone in
the car, but on this occasion had been distracted and had put it in
his pocket (but had no intention of using it).

He put on his PPE, signed into the site, completed his safety
documentation and started the survey. Whilst on the forecourt
the phone rang in his pocket, causing a distraction and resulted in him making a decision
to walk off the forecourt and answer the phone in a safe area, away from the fuel
vapours. Whilst there is a huge debate as to whether mobile phones actually cause a
potential sparking hazard, what isn’t in doubt is the fact that they cause distraction and
can cause the operator to take his eye off the site hazards (moving traffic in particular);
in this case, Gigi accepts that he was keen to get off the site and not miss the call,
although his actions didn’t cause any danger (on this occasion).

I applaud the fact that this incident was shared and not hidden, but note that Xmo Strata
site rules strictly prohibit mobile phones being taken onto any petrol filling station and
will ask our supervisors to use this as a toolbox talk to reinforce this issue.

Share Thoughts
About Risk

Risk management is a big step towards accident prevention; however, it is dependent on the risk first ly
being identified, then controlled. We need safety awareness to be instinctive and form an integral part
of both our working and home lives; it is this, in turn, that may save the lives of others. Remember: if
shared, risks can be mitigated before they pose a threat.
If you have any queries regarding the Safety Bulletin content or require further information please
contact any staff member of Xmo Strata Ltd.