After Sunday's heroics by one of their crews, perhaps the people at Allied Cesspool Emptiers will now claim to be the number one players in more than the number two business. They may now be called on for expertise in the fire prevention and safety business.

Levity aside, the men who operated the truck in Manor Park ought to be commended for their quick-wittedness and bravery; first, for contemplating that the contents in their tanker could be used to douse a fire at the Shell petrol station; second, for risking their safety and going through with it. Had they dithered, no one knows what might have been the eventual outcome in this tight, mostly commercial district. We suspect that they averted a major tragedy.

In this case, though, all's not well that ends well. The Manor Park escape should again put back on the agenda this matter of safety at petrol stations, and industrial safety generally - the latter issue which we recently addressed in these columns.

It is not yet clear what ignited the fire and near conflagration at Manor Park, but the anecdotal information suggests that it started during an attendant's filling of a customer's container with gasolene. Whatever the specific cause, this newspaper has long been deeply concerned about the lack of enforcement of safety regulations at petrol stations and the commercial management and handling of inflammable materials generally.

This matter was brought to public attention at the start of the decade when there was an explosion and injuries at a Kingston restaurant during the filling of a tank, from a commercial carrier, with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). After a long inquiry, the Energy Ministry reminded the petroleum trade about its safety regime and promised strict enforcement of the rules.

But this is Jamaica. The officials puffed hot air. There was a bit of shuffling all round and things soon returned to 'normal'. So, all around the island LPG tanks stand unprotected in the open at commercial enterprises. There appears to be little or no special precautions when these tanks are being replenished. These are potential disasters waiting to be acknowledged.

It is perhaps more luck than sensible behaviour that the worst has not yet happened at a petrol station. It seems that the operators of these enterprises put up the obligatory safety signs and warnings, but with little or no attempt at enforcement and even less expectation that they will be adhered to.

Customers are reminded that cellular phones should be turned off at the petrol pumps, yet it is common to see drivers yapping away on their mobiles while their tanks are being filled. Attendants seem blissfully oblivious of the dangers.

The 'No Smoking' signs are there too. It is not uncommon, however, to see people smoking at the precincts of these facilities, or for the engines of vehicles to be running while taking on gasolene.

It is not always apparent that petrol stations are adequately fitted out with safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, safety alarms and axes. Nor do we sense that staff are properly trained to respond to emergencies.

It is imperative that we get on with this business of safety prevention and regulatory enforcement for the next time we may not be able to call on the expertise of the number two people.