From Samuel Agbewode, Klefe
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) says it is taking pragmatic measures to halt petroleum-related accidents, saying, “Accidents in the petroleum industry, in recent times, have reached far consequences.”
The measures the NPA intends to take include long-term public education activities on safety measures.
Addressing journalists and media practitioners at Klefe, Ho, in the Volta Region, Esther Anku, Director of Inspection, Licensing and Monitoring at the NPA, explained that her outfit was embarking on a national educational campaign on the need to end petroleum-related accidents.
The campaign is on the slogan ‘People’s Safety First’, and after it is launched, it would have a day set aside as National Safety Day, when safety measures on petroleum products would be spread to create awareness to enable people to adhere to such safety practices.
She said that petroleum accidents in the first quarter of 2017, involving gas explosions at Ashaiman and other petroleum accidents in Takoradi, among others across the nation, in which lives and properties were lost, were unacceptable.
“Such accidents affect the sustenance in the petroleum industry, as well as creating health and environmental problems as they pollute the environment,” she pointed out.
In this regard, she explained that regional safety workshops would be organised, where pump attendants would be trained on basic safety practices at the various filling stations.
“It would enable drivers too to get first-hand information on how to prevent petroleum accidents in their daily activities. The public will also learn how to handle domestic gas in their homes,” the NPA Director of Inspection, Licensing and Monitoring noted.
Esther Anku reiterated that the petroleum safety campaign would not be limited to public education only, “but will include operators in the petroleum service providers, as their activities will be regulated and monitored to ensure that they comply with all safety rules and regulations.
“The Authority will not compromise on any unlawful activities by the service providers.”
According to her, the service providers, who distinguishe themselves in the petroleum industry, would be rewarded for adhering to good practices, noting that a safety card would also be provided and given to the chief executives of oil marketing companies to sign that they would comply with safety measures in the discharge of their duties.
Madam Anku explained that the normal distance between one filling station and another ought to be one kilometre, and a church should be 60 metres away, and that of gas filling station 500 metres.
By this education, she advised that anybody interested in siting fuel filling stations ought to comply with the acceptable rules and regulations, reminding them that the NPA should be the first point of contact for approval.
In view of this, Eunice Anku admitted the huge impact the media would play in her outfit’s national campaign, saying, “You are our partners in the petroleum industry, and so we need you to disseminate our safety messages and practices that would go a long way to stop petroleum related accidents in the country.”
The Director of United Petroleum Fund, Samuel Asare Bediako, noted that the national safety campaign would be done alongside the media, in order to achieve maximum results.
Therefore, he also called on the media to show more commitment to the campaign, which would soon be launched soon, to help create the needed awareness on safety practices in the petroleum industry.
From Samuel Agbewode, Klefe The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) says it is taking pragmatic measures to halt petroleum-related accidents, saying, “Accidents in the petroleum industry, in recent times, have reached far consequences.” The measures the NPA intends to take include long-term public education activities on safety measures. Addressing journalists and media practitioners at Klefe, Ho, […] Read Full Story
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