The National Petroleum Company, NP, is reminding members of the public of the dangers of smoking at it Service Stations, saying this poses a significant risk as a lit cigarette or loose cigarette ash can ignite gasoline vapours in the air.

The warning comes in response to a video circulating on social media showing a member of the public smoking a cigarette in close proximity to a fuel dispenser.

“Out of an abundance of caution, despite ongoing debates regarding evidence linking fires / risks to mobile phone ignitions, NP strongly discourages the use of cell phones in the area of the vehicle filler point when filling a vehicle and / or in the immediate vicinity of a fuel dispenser. Mobile phones are not designed or certified for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, which exist temporarily around the pump and nozzle during refuelling,” NP said in a statement on Tuesday. 

“Moreover, although NP works alongside Service Station Dealers to mitigate these types of instances as much as possible, we are also seeking the cooperation of the public in complying with all safety messages posted throughout the Service Station network and in exercising their social responsibility to prevent destruction and harm to themselves or property,” it added.