LP Gas safety management must be based on knowledge — MD of Solution Solve

Mr. Samuel Otu Larbi, Managing Director of Solution Solve Limited has revealed that managing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) safety is knowledge-based and procedures should be revised periodically.

He stressed that incidents and accidents are sources of case studies and very instructive which should be shared for the benefit of all stakeholders.

“The national and local authorities should take advantage of the expertise within the LP gas industry to ensure an informed and uniform approach to good safety practice,” Mr Otu Larbi stated at the Bono East Regional training programme held in Techiman and organized by the Environmental Protection Agency on the topic: “Environmental Safety and Best Practices”.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) training seeks to empower LPG Station Attendants through coordinated educational and sensitization mechanisms aimed at reducing radically the hazards associated with the usage of LPG in Ghana.

The EPA training forms the first part of the new licensing regime to be rolled out for LPG Pump Station Attendants, which was monitored by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Techiman.

Mr Otu Larbi who is an industrial expert said controlling risks guarantees the health and safety of people and safeguards property and environment, stressing that the “danger is always present, only the risk is reduced by behaviour.

“The major players (the installer, the marketer and the consumer) have a major role to play in the safe handling of the gas. LPG is potentially hazardous from production until it has being used.

“So every uncontrolled release is a hazardous act and should receive urgent attention. Thus, even the smallest gas leak can be detected and should receive appropriate and immediate attention,” Mr Otu Larbi stated.

Mr William Hayfron-Acquah, EPA Acting Director, Field Operations explained that the agency seeks to raise awareness about the hazards of LPG and the preventive mechanism available.

Mr Hayfron-Acquah noted that the training emanated from the background that there has been a series of gas explosions and fire outbreaks in the country for some time now, which had resulted in loss of lives and properties.

He said as major player in charge of environmental protection we have identified education as a missing link, therefore “we want to build the capacity of station attendants who plays a critical interface in the whole operations of selling LPG to end users.

“We believe that if the actors understand the products they are dealing with, such knowledge will help reduce the human factors that’s errors which most often leads to fire outbreaks,” he said.

The EPA Acting Director Field Operations urged stakeholders to enrol their attendants to participate in the training; “Dealers and Owners must also participate in the training as it will help you protect your investment through the best administered practices”.

Mr. Hyafron-Acquah said EPA seeks through the training to equip stakeholders with the requisite technical skills and knowledge and introduce professionalism into the Oil and Gas downstream industry.

He said “we also seek to certify all the operators along the supply chain including, the Investors, Drivers, Managers, Supervisors, Compliance Officers, and Pump Attendants with the best modern practices to operate”.

The current series is targeted at pump attendants across the country. It will therefore be organised in all the 16 regions.