(a) the number of fire accidents at petrol pumps reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of prescribed safety norms to be observed by the petrol pump owners or Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to prevent such accidents;
(c) whether the Government has made any study regarding compliance of the prescribed safety norms by petrol pumps across
the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SMT. PANABAAKA LAKSHMI)
(a) A total of 150 fire accidents have occurred at the retail outlets (ROs) of public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs.), viz., Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPC) during the last three years and the current year (till September 2012). The State/UT-wise details are at Annexure.
(b): The details of prescribed safety norms to be observed by the dealers/ OMCs to prevent accidents are as follows:-
i. Prohibition of smoking at RO premises;
ii. Engine of the fuelling vehicle to be switched off before fuelling;
iii. Tank Lorry (TL) must be parked in drive out position at designated place during unloading;
iv. Driver/Cleaner must be present near the TL;
v. Standard steps to be displayed near the unloading point;
vi. Fire extinguishers must be placed near the unloading point;
vii. Segregation / cordoning off the  decantation area while unloading TL;
viii. Standard rubber hose having electrical continuity with couplings on both ends;
ix. No plastic funnel/bucket to be used as it generates static charge;
x. A robust bonding with soldered heavy duty clips on both ends clamped
on the designated unpainted point on the TL and earth point near the tank;
xi. Display of safety messages;
xii. No loose sale of MS/HSD in plastic bottle/container;
xiii. Prohibition of mobile phone usage at forecourt;
xiv. Maintenance of equipments by company authorised vendors;
xv. No loose electric wiring in the equipment.
(c) & (d) Whenever any incident of fire/ accident occurs at a Retail Outlet (RO), the same is investigated by a team of officers and cause of accident is established. Remedial steps for non-occurrence of such accidents are drawn and these
are circulated to all, through internal broadcast.
Quarterly safety inspection is done by Territory Engineer.
The public sector OMCs have a vast network of ROs and all efforts are made through the field force to ensure that the operations are carried out in a safe manner by imparting training to the dealers / pump attendants on a regular basis.
At the regional level, Territory Engineers are imparted training regularly and importance of safety is reiterated.
The staff at the RO is fully geared to fight fire and ensure that the losses are minimal in case of any fire accidents.