The Ghana National Fire Service has released a statement dated October 9, 2017 signed by Assistant Chief Fire Officer of the Greater Accra Command, Mr. Fanny Simpson that the institution will be embarking on a regional tour to inspect all stations and will close down stations if one of the seven requirements stated is not available.
The decision which is as a result of last Saturday’s Atomic Junction Gas Explosion and a number of incidents which have resulted in the lost of lives of many individuals, causing injuries and damages to many and misplacement of properties.
The agency also claimed that the inspection will ensure all operating stations work under safe conditions and at least meet the pointed seven conditions stated in the press release.
Press Statement.
Due to the spate of gas explosions that have bedevilled the Nation in recent times, the Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service will embark on a safe audit within the region.
This is to ensure that all gas petrol filling stations operate under safe conditions.
The following checklist is going to be employed for the audit to guarantee regulatory standards:
1. All stations must have National Petroleum Authority(NPA), Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assembly(MMDA) and Ghana National Fire Service Permits.
2. All Stations must have gas detection system that would detect gas leakages and serve as early warning system.
3. There should be an emergy shut-off valve that could shut-off the gas should there be any leakage from the pipes.
4. Stations must also have automatic sprinklers installed on top of the bulk storage tanks to cool it should there be any increase in temperature.
5. Sunction Pump must be installed at all gas filling stations to transfer gas from the tankers to tank instead of using the tanker’s engine. Also, fire extinguisher must be put on standby befire offloading.
6. Businesses and other human activities should keep distance from the facilities.
7. Adequate training by all stake holders must be given to owners/attendants to circumvent negligence situations that can be avoided.
The Regional Command will ensure that facilities that do not meet the basic safety requirements are closed down.
It is time to make few people uncomfortable to save the larger society. The public is hereby asked to kindly cooperate with the team from the Ghana National Fire Service to assist in curbing this menace.
George Duah
