Assessing Health and Safety Compliance in Libyan Fuel Stations (A Case Study of Tripoli – Libya)
Keywords:
Fuel stations, Health and safety compliance, Libya, Tripoli, Risk assessment, Environmental protectionAbstract
This study investigates the extent of compliance of fuel stations in Libya with health and safety measures and standards, focusing on Tripoli as a representative case study. Through a comprehensive survey of 50 fuel stations in Tripoli, this research evaluates compliance across five critical dimensions: infrastructure and equipment, operational procedures, worker safety, environmental protection, and regulatory awareness. The findings reveal significant deficiencies in safety compliance, with particularly concerning results in worker safety, environmental protection, and regulatory awareness. The study provides empirical evidence of the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and regulatory enforcement in Libya’s fuel retail sector. These findings are further corroborated by documented incidents of fuel station fires in Tripoli between 2021-2025, highlighting the real-world consequences of inadequate safety compliance. The research contributes to the limited body of knowledge on fuel station safety in Libya and provides actionable recommendations for improving health and safety standards in the sector.
Downloads
References
[1] Al-Khateeb, A. (2019). Risk Assessment and Safety Management in Petroleum Retail Operations. Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 15(3), 45-62.
[2] Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2021). Fuel Handling and Storage Standards. U.S. Department of Labor. Available at: https://www.osha.gov/fuel-handling-storage
[3] International Finance Corporation (IFC). (2020). Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Retail Petroleum Networks. World Bank Group. Available at: https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/topics_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/sustainability-at-ifc/policies-standards/ehs-guidelines
[4] Kimani, J. K., & Mwangi, P. W. (2018). Environmental Health and Safety Practices in Fuel Stations: A Case Study of Nairobi County, Kenya. East African Journal of Public Health, 12(2), 78-89.
[5] Asante, K. O., & Dartey, B. (2017). Health and Safety Conditions at Fuel Stations in Ghana: Occupational Hazards and Health Issues. Ghana Journal of Occupational Health, 8(1), 23-35.
[6] Thompson, R. S., & Williams, M. J. (2019). Environmental Risks from Fuel Station Operations: Contamination and Mitigation Strategies. Environmental Science and Policy, 94, 156-165.
[7] European Environment Agency (EEA). (2018). Fuel Stations and Community Safety: Distance Requirements and Risk Assessment. EEA Technical Report No. 12/2018.
[8] Libya Ministry of Oil and Gas. (2020). Petroleum Sector Regulations and Safety Standards. Tripoli: Government Publications.
[9] African Development Bank. (2019). Libya Energy Sector Assessment: Safety and Environmental Considerations. Tunis: AfDB Publications.
[10] United Nations Environment Programme. (2021). Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment: Libya. Nairobi: UNEP Publications.
[11] Sari, D. P., & Wijaya, A. (2020). Safety Climate and Safety Performance in Gas Stations: An Indonesian Perspective. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 26(3), 445-452.
[12] International Organization for Standardization. (2018). ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems. Geneva: ISO Publications.
[13] Libya Herald. (2025, July 20). Major Fire at Arada Fuel Station Causes Significant Damage. Available at: https://www.libyaherald.com/2025/07/20/arada-fuel-station-fire/
[14] Libya Observer. (2021, June 16). Al-Bayfi Fuel Station Fire Highlights Safety Concerns. Available at: https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/al-bayfi-fuel-station-fire
[15] Tripoli Post. (2024, February 21). Ben Ashour Fuel Station Incident Raises Community Safety Questions. Available at: https://www.tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c_id=ben-ashour-incident
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
