ASSESSMENT OF LOCATION SUITABILITY, HEALTH AND SAFETY PRACTICES IN PETROL FILLING STATIONS, ILORIN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The recent proliferation of petrol filling stations in Ilorin town was assessed with the use of both site analysis report and questionnaire. In order to achieve the aim of this research, 43 petrol filling stations were systematically chosen and physically analyzed. More also, 150 carefully structured questionnaires were used to extract information from respondents who are attendants in these petrol filling stations. The results gotten from both the site analysis and questionnaire were subjected to Department of Petroleum Resources’ standard criteria (Nigeria) and criteria of the Petroleum Enforcement Liaison (or simply the RED GUIDE) from the UK. It was established from this research that only 5% of the petrol filling stations considered is within these standard criteria, with 74% of the considered petrol filling stations having very low location suitability, suggesting that the city is sitting on an inflammable fuel waiting to be rekindled. Furthermore, it can also be established from this research, that most of the fuel attendants are not well acquainted with the proper health and safety measures required to be in such station. It was observed from this research, that the permitting requirements and standard criteria are probably just on paper or the corresponding ministries or agencies concerned are not proactive. Thereby, endangering the lives and properties of innocent citizens as well as exposing the environment to contaminations from petroleum products and subsequent climatic degradations. Keywords: environmental impact, petroleum, hazard, red guide, proximity, criteria and dispenser