❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on the ban of mobile phone use at service stations during refuelling, including the scope of the ban, reasons for it, and any recorded incidents. The answer clarifies the regulations, scope, and provides context on related incidents.
AnsweredQoN 1687Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the use of mobile phones by persons who are refuelling their motor vehicles at service stations banned?
(2) If yes, does this apply to all types of fuels, including diesel and autogas?
(3) What is the real extent of the ban within the service station site?
(4) Can a person sitting in a car being refuelled use a mobile phone?
(5) For what reason is the use of mobile phones banned?
(6) In Western Australia, what examples are there of fires having started, or other incidents involving a threat to human safety, having occurred that have been recorded?
(7) In the whole of Australia, how many fires or other safety incidents are known to have occurred as a result of a mobile phone having ignited a gaseous or liquid fuel at a service station or similar establishment?
(2) If yes, does this apply to all types of fuels, including diesel and autogas?
(3) What is the real extent of the ban within the service station site?
(4) Can a person sitting in a car being refuelled use a mobile phone?
(5) For what reason is the use of mobile phones banned?
(6) In Western Australia, what examples are there of fires having started, or other incidents involving a threat to human safety, having occurred that have been recorded?
(7) In the whole of Australia, how many fires or other safety incidents are known to have occurred as a result of a mobile phone having ignited a gaseous or liquid fuel at a service station or similar establishment?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2003
Responded by
Minister for State Development
Response time
90 days
(1) Yes, under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods (Dangerous Goods Handling and Storage) Regulations 1992. (2) It applies only to flammable liquids (eg petrol) and autogas (LP Gas), but not to diesel fuel. (3) The area of concern is generally 4 m laterally from the dispenser, to a height of up to 0.5 m above the dispenser unit. (4) Yes, provided the windows are shut. However, it is recommended that people switch off their mobile phones before they enter the service station. (5) It is banned because it is introducing a portable ignition source within a *hazardous area while fuel is dispensed. *Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(2) It applies only to flammable liquids (eg petrol) and autogas (LP Gas), but not to diesel fuel. (3) The area of concern is generally 4 m laterally from the dispenser, to a height of up to 0.5 m above the dispenser unit. (4) Yes, provided the windows are shut. However, it is recommended that people switch off their mobile phones before they enter the service station. (5) It is banned because it is introducing a portable ignition source within a *hazardous area while fuel is dispensed. *Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(4) Yes, provided the windows are shut. However, it is recommended that people switch off their mobile phones before they enter the service station. (5) It is banned because it is introducing a portable ignition source within a *hazardous area while fuel is dispensed. *Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(5) It is banned because it is introducing a portable ignition source within a *hazardous area while fuel is dispensed. *Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
*Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(2) It applies only to flammable liquids (eg petrol) and autogas (LP Gas), but not to diesel fuel. (3) The area of concern is generally 4 m laterally from the dispenser, to a height of up to 0.5 m above the dispenser unit. (4) Yes, provided the windows are shut. However, it is recommended that people switch off their mobile phones before they enter the service station. (5) It is banned because it is introducing a portable ignition source within a *hazardous area while fuel is dispensed. *Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(4) Yes, provided the windows are shut. However, it is recommended that people switch off their mobile phones before they enter the service station. (5) It is banned because it is introducing a portable ignition source within a *hazardous area while fuel is dispensed. *Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(5) It is banned because it is introducing a portable ignition source within a *hazardous area while fuel is dispensed. *Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
*Hazardous area is an area in which an explosive atmosphere (eg fuel vapour – air mixture) is present. Special precautions must be taken to prevent the ignition of the fuel vapour/air mixture. (6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(6) A fuel-dispensing incident occurred recently (May 2003) at a service station where a customer was refuelling his car at a self-serve outlet when a fire started in the vicinity of the fuel tank filling point. A mobile phone was not involved in this incident. Static electricity was the likely source of ignition. To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
To date, we have not recorded any fires that have started as a result of a person operating a mobile phone while dispensing fuel at a service station. (7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
(7) I am advised that this information is not readily available.
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