Petrol in the Face

[Messie]

I've just had the most frightening experience.

Just starting to fill up the bike when the nozzle slips a little and petrol sprays into my face. Right in my eyes, mouth, nose, everything. I screamed, cos the stinging was awful. I couldn't open my eyes and I felt completely blind and helpless.

I called out for help and a young chap came over. He wanted to help but didn't know what to do. He ran inside to ask the attendant but came running back again because he couldn't help. He then realised that washing with water might help so led me to where the air and water stuff is and washed me as best he could. He left then - many many thanks young man.

Then,as I could see a bit, I went into the shop for more help. I expected the attandant to help me but he just started telling me off for sitting on the bike while filling it. My skin and eyes were burning by this point and I asked for his help. He said he'd phone his manager! I asked for the first aid box but he said it only had bandages for hands in it and refused to find it. I got a bit stroppy then (tell you the truth I was in pain and scared). He found the first aid box with some opened, out of date eye wash in it. I couldn't possibly use that but another customer had realised what had happened and had some Boots eyedrops in her bag. They helped quite a bit.

Some time later I rode home. I've washed and washed but the smell of petrol won't go away. My eyes are sore, my skin is burning, I've got a foul headache and I feel sick. I think the original splashing was my own fault but I'm shocked at the attitude and lack of help offered by the forecourt employee. I shall be complaining when their customer services opens on Monday. Others customers there were very, very helpful. Two of them even said how nice my bike was.

So please be careful when filling up.

how awful for you, and quite honestly I think they should have offered far more first aid and assitance than that - maybe even called for paramedics?!. As for ticking you off, I often fill up whilst sitting on the bike, learnt it from my instructors on my DAS! Do get medical advice if you keep feeling grotty.

Originally Posted by Messie

I've just had the most frightening experience.

Just starting to fill up the bike when the nozzle slips a little and petrol sprays into my face. Right in my eyes, mouth, nose, everything. I screamed, cos the stinging was awful. I couldn't open my eyes and I felt completely blind and helpless.

I called out for help and a young chap came over. He wanted to help but didn't know what to do. He ran inside to ask the attendant but came running back again because he couldn't help. He then realised that washing with water might help so led me to where the air and water stuff is and washed me as best he could. He left then - many many thanks young man.

Then,as I could see a bit, I went into the shop for more help. I expected the attandant to help me but he just started telling me off for sitting on the bike while filling it. My skin and eyes were burning by this point and I asked for his help. He said he'd phone his manager! I asked for the first aid box but he said it only had bandages for hands in it and refused to find it. I got a bit stroppy then (tell you the truth I was in pain and scared). He found the first aid box with some opened, out of date eye wash in it. I couldn't possibly use that but another customer had realised what had happened and had some Boots eyedrops in her bag. They helped quite a bit.

Some time later I rode home. I've washed and washed but the smell of petrol won't go away. My eyes are sore, my skin is burning, I've got a foul headache and I feel sick. I think the original splashing was my own fault but I'm shocked at the attitude and lack of help offered by the forecourt employee. I shall be complaining when their customer services opens on Monday. Others customers there were very, very helpful. Two of them even said how nice my bike was.

So please be careful when filling up.

Think you need to have a bl**dy strong word with their head office & Health & Safety.

The company has liability for not having the correct first aid equipmant regardless of the fact it was your fault, if the eyewash is out of date they are breaching the health and safety laws,
sue their asses you are gaurenteed to win compo for it
Trust me!
if any illness or damage is caused by incompitance of employees even in the event of an accident its classed as gross misconduct, and the station will have CCTV to prove it with audio. and on the forecourt.

You will Win

Let me know what you think and how it goes

John

Sounds like a terrifying experience. Hope you feel better soon.

I can't believe how unhelpful that attendant was. I hope you give them hell.

sorry i just feel like saying...in a loving way of course..."dumbass"!

lol you should have got more help than you did. lucky someone there gave a damn, thats rare as it is nowadays.

but hey...you would have thought that handling flamable liquid would need more attention!

[mister c]

Originally Posted by lylej

The company has liability for not having the correct first aid equipmant regardless of the fact it was your fault, if the eyewash is out of date they are breaching the health and safety laws,
sue their asses you are gaurenteed to win compo for it
Trust me!
if any illness or damage is caused by incompitance of employees even in the event of an accident its classed as gross misconduct, and the station will have CCTV to prove it with audio. and on the forecourt.

You will Win

Let me know what you think and how it goes

John

Here Here. They should have a qualified first aider on site, which should be posted up in the shop. The assistant should have known the drill & got it sorted as soon as poss.
Glad you're ok, that's the main thing, but I would look at getting some legal advice, don't leave it too long.

i'm always carefull when filling the bike as not to spill any because its to bl@@dy expencive! sorry to hear this messie i hope you ok.

[Messie]

I'm not really the sueing type. After all, the initial mistake was mine.
I'm just saddened and worried about the employee's response. What I really want is the company to take responsibility for reprimanding the guy and ensuring they are all trained in the correct responses for the future.
I have to do that seemingly boring H & S stuff with my team and I always say that 'it could happen' when they question why they have to do things.

Now I've calmed down a bit I think I might've given that young helpful chap a bit of a scare. Slightly 'ahem' older female on large bike screaming for help - I must've looked totally deranged!

[Richie]

Sorry to here of your wows,
I've done it, but not on a bike. and yes it bloody stings to high heaven and back. after an eye wash the medic told me to stand and face the wind as the fuel would evaporate off... I told the young medic to do the same.