Following the Atomic Junction gas explosion in Accra, the Ghana Fire Service in the Central Region is set to clamp down on gas and petrol filling stations operating under unsafe conditions within its domain.
The region’s fire service will embark on a safety audit “to guarantee regulatory standards,” according to a statement from its headquarters.
[contextly_sidebar id=”xp2pKYgUamXAW1IabKXyoM9U7DN4PVzE”]This is “due to the spate of gas explosions that have bedeviled the nation in recent times,” the statement said.
The fire service personnel will be looking out for permits from the required agencies, including the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The service will also be looking out for systems that detect leaks and reduce the probability of gas explosions.
Ghana has seen about 8 major gas explosions since 2014, with over 30 deaths recorded, and hundreds injured and disfigured.
These figures does not include the June 3 fire and flood disaster, which claimed over 150 lives, and has been blamed on safety failings, among other things.
The most recent explosion at the Atomic Junction has so far claimed seven lives, with over 130 injured.
The Command said it will ensure that “facilities that do not meet basic safety requirements are closed down.”
The safety standards that gas and petrol filling stations will be held to are captured below:
- All stations must have National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assembly (MMDA), and Ghana National Fire Service permits.
- All stations must have gas detection systems that would detect gas leakages and serve as early warning system.
- There should be an emergency shut-off valve that could shut off the gas should there be any leakage from the pipes.
- Stations must also have automatic sprinklers installed on the top of the bulk storage tanks to cool it should be there be any increase in temperature.
- Suction pump must be installed at all gas filling stations to transfer gas from tankers to tanks instead of using the tanker’s engine. Also, fire extinguishers must be put on stand-by before offloading.
- Businesses and other human activities should keep distance from the facilities.
- Adequate training by all stakeholders must be given to owners/attendants to circumvent negligence situations that can be avoided.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana