Filling station owners and staff have been warned not to sell petrol to children in the run up to Hallowe'en due to the potential for death or serious injury.
The Health and Safety Authority said children's lives could be at risk because of the hazard petrol poses in terms of storage, carriage and ignition.
Senior Inspector, Ms Deirdre Sinnott cautioned that petrol should never be used to start fires.
"With huge numbers of children and young people currently building bonfires in advance of Hallowe'en, petrol station staff should be extra vigilant that petrol is not put into unsuitable containers such as milk containers, mineral bottles or other unsuitable domestic containers for liquids," she said.
"Children should not be allowed access to petrol under any circumstances, because of the extreme risk of serious or fatal burn injuries."
Under current legislation, petrol station operators are obliged to take all necessary steps to prevent risk to themselves and others during the dispensing and subsequent transporting of petrol.