## 2 Materials and Methods
An analysis of the current situation around gas station safety shows that increased attention to filling station safety is focused on hydrogen filling stations, because of the growing interest in hydrogen as an alternative fuel. However, it is important to note that conventional filling stations offering traditional fuels such as gasoline, diesel and LPG are still an important part of the energy sector and are in operation around the world [26]. There are many companies in Europe that deal with the sale of fuels such as gasoline, diesel, LPG, and others. Some of these belong to large international energy companies, while others are local and regional chains. Here are some examples:  
* BP (British Petroleum): A large international energy company based in the United Kingdom that operates many service stations throughout Europe. * Shell: Another large international energy company based in the Netherlands, with an extensive network of service stations across Europe. * Total: A French energy company with a global presence, including many service stations in Europe. * Eni: An Italian energy company which operates service stations in various European countries. * Repsol: A Spanish energy company with service stations in several markets in Europe. * OMV: An Austrian energy company with a strong presence in Central and Eastern Europe. * ESSO: An energy company that is part of ExxonMobil and operates service stations in several European countries. * Q8: A Belgian energy company that is known for its service stations in Belgium and other European countries. * Aral: A German gas station chain that is part of BP. * CEPSA: A Spanish energy company with gas station operations in various European countries. These are just a few of the many companies involved in fuel sales in Europe. Each of these companies has its own brand names and networks of gas stations, which may be names such as \"BP\", \"Shell\", \"Total\", and so on. For example, Shell has 22,539 gas stations across Europe [27] and OMV has more than 2100 gas stations in ten European countries [28]. As of 19 October 2023 there are 923 gas stations registered in the Slovak Republic in the database of the Statistical Office (Table 1). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Company** & **Number of Gas Stations** \\ \hline Slovnaft & 267 \\ OMV & 91 \\ Shell & 87 \\ Jurki & 62 \\ Orlen & 60 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Total number of gas stations in the Slovak Republic [29; 30]. Assessing the safety of conventional gas stations is essential not only to protect human life and property, but also to minimize the environmental risks associated with spills and fires in the handling of these fuels [31]. These filling stations are located close to cities and residential areas, in protected landscapes, national parks, and close to drinking water sources, which increases the importance of a thorough risk assessment and the adoption of appropriate precautions [32; 33]. The importance of risk assessment and the prevention of emergencies is highlighted by examples of selected accidents at pump station sites, including their consequences (Table 2). The above examples of accidents show that accidents at service stations are often the result of a combination of negligence, improper handling of hazardous substances, and improper adherence to safety standards when working with fuels. These accidents can have profound consequences not only for human life, health, and property, but also carry  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline \hline
**Place** & **Event** & **Cause** & **Impact** \\ \hline
8 October 2023 & & & 10 dead, 8 injured, demolished gas \\ Creselough (Ireland) [34] & an explosion at a gas station, & Gas leak & station building, damaged adjacent \\  & & & apartment buildings and broken \\  & & & windows of nearby family houses.