OMR1,000 fine for dirty fuel station restrooms

Muscat: Fuel stations which do not provide clean restrooms or other essential services for customers are set to be fined up to OMR1,000, according to a new decision by the Ministry of Commerce.
Article 32 of the ministerial decision reads: “Owners of fuel stations must provide basic services and facilities such as restrooms and other necessary services at all fuel stations. The person operating the station must make sure that these facilities are kept clean and that they are available to customers during the station’s working hours.”
This replaced part of a previous executive list which was issued in 2009, which directed that public fuel stations must have restrooms, but did not specify that they needed to be kept in a clean condition or that they must be open to customers.
The updated decision also includes a fine for neglecting the facilities or not cleaning them, as well as not maintaining the building, neglecting to renew the station’s permit, or not training employees on health and safety.
Article 38 stipulates that those who violate the specified articles will receive: “A written warning for the first offence, followed by OMR1000 in administrative fines if the offence is repeated.”
A fuel station owner in Oman said that this law could prove beneficial for users, as well as for the general reputation of tourist areas.
He told Times of Oman: “I think restrooms at fuel stations should absolutely be clean and available, especially because of one type of user: the person traveling to another place. These people will appreciate what the station offers, and it improves their impression of the Wilayat or area. It’s a service for tourists or travellers, who will use it and speak well about where they found it. People who live there are unlikely to need this service.”
“However, I should also explain that there is a danger of vandalism, or people using the restroom themselves and leaving it in a poor condition. This is a real issue, so I feel like we should be able to have the restroom clean and open but locked. If you want to use the facilities, ask for the key even if you aren’t buying anything. The employees will be more than happy to open it for you, then clean up and lock it again. It’s only because they want to make sure the place is properly maintained that they want to have the restroom under lock and key.”
According to him, the cleaning and maintenance costs should be paid for by the owner of the station. “This isn’t something that the company using the service pays for. This is worth the cost, but it’s also why owners are always worried about somebody vandalising the restroom inside.”
Speaking about whether clean restrooms affect the sales of petrol, he added: “No. In Oman we also have mosques and other places where people can stop, so I don’t think anyone is going to stop at a petrol station just because it has a clean restroom. This doesn’t affect sales, it’s simply another service that people need and which improves the reputation of the area in general.”