WorkSafe has issued an alert about the serious risk of injury workers face when filling portable equipment with petrol.
Ten workers sustained burns in separate incidents, after fuel vapours ignited while refuelling portable petrol-powered equipment, including pressure washers, pumps and generators.
A ute-mounted vacuum unit and vehicle were also destroyed when petrol vapours ignited by static electricity.
The WorkSafe Alert warns that petrol fumes created when filling potable equipment can be easily ignited by hot surfaces or static electricity, and that workers can be killed or seriously injured in such incidents. It also provides extensive advice on ways to control the risks.
Read more: Workers sustain burns after petrol vapours ignite while refuelling portable equipment WorkSafe Victoria