Petroleum Association urges customers to wear masks

The South African Petroleum Retailers Association (SAPRA) has requested that all customers wear masks when utilising any of its convenience stores.

“This week, a local fuel station was criticised for requesting masks be worn by customers utilising its store. The customer was asked instead to place an order at the outside service window. We understand that this may have taken the customer by surprise, but it indicates our commitment to keeping our staff safe,” said SAPRA director, Vishal Premlall.

The question of wearing a mask has been hotly debated since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Premlall said the organisation has asked that customers at fuel stations, and their accompanying forecourt shops, wear masks.

“The coronavirus crisis has brought into sharp focus the need for personal accountability. Wearing a mask is part of this. It’s not merely about making sure that you don’t contract the virus, it’s also taking a proactive step to prevent spreading it if you don’t know that you’ve been infected,” he said.

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“As essential workers, employees at petrol stations, or any essential service staff, don’t have the option of staying home. Instead, they risk their health every day, not only on public transport to reach the workplace, but also serving hundreds of customers who may or may not be infected. That’s why our request to wear masks is a serious one. We greatly appreciate the risks that these staff members are taking, and we have the responsibility to repay their bravery by doing all we can to protect them,” he said.

Premlall acknowledged that wearing a mask is a recommendation rather than a regulation from government that, in the spirit of embracing a safer future, customers wear masks.

“While we cannot enforce this, as we know some customers don’t have the materials to make their own masks or cannot afford to purchase one, we have made it possible for customers to purchase the goods they require without entering the forecourt shop by ordering through the cashier’s window,” added Premlall. 

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