A member of the NPA team speaks to a caterer
Most consumers of gas in the Western Region are engaged malpractices despite efforts by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to curb the misuse of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country.
Leakage of LPG from damaged rubber tube, incorrect fixing of the regulator, damaged O-Ring in the cylinder valve and rusty cylinders, among others, were detected at tea stalls, roadside eateries, chop bars, restaurants and hotels.
A team from the Corporate Affairs Division of the NPA discovered this when it embarked on the second phase of the nationwide LPG door-to-door campaign in the Sekondi/Takoradi Municipality recently.
Benjamin Sekyere Owusu, Communications Officer of the NPA, said LPG can be an excellent and safe fuel for cooking if used correctly.
He said, “If stored or used incorrectly, LPG can be extremely dangerous. When safety is compromised accident is born which can cause serious injury or even death.
“A single mistake in the kitchen can be fatal, so be careful. You can be roasted alive,” he stressed.
Mr Owusu said most fire accidents happen because of negligence.
“People fail to notice leaks, do not change the hose periodically, do not turn off the valve etc. Yes, sometimes faulty cylinders are delivered which is why we need to be alert and be caretakers of our own safety.”
He admonished the consumers to preferably place their gas cylinders outside their rooms, adding that “the idea to have the gas cylinder outside the kitchen and connected by long hose to the stove or burner is very good.”
The team has already visited several eateries in the Takoradi, Sekondi, Effiekuma, Tarkwa and Apemanim areas, where vendors were educated on the appropriate use of LPG cylinders at their business centres and homes.
The sensitization exercise is part of a policy by the authority to help reduce LPG related accidents, including explosions and fire outbreaks.
A business desk report