How Ghana can avoid recurring gas explosions
As a country we need safety requirement strategy that will satisfy compliance with minimum environmental safety requirement in the operations of gas facilities.
It is a written fact that indicate that between 2014 and 2017, Ghana has witnessed eight major gas explosions – the Kwame Nkrumah Circle (3rd June 2015), Nungua-Zongo gas explosion (18th July 2014), Trade Fair Explosion (23rd December 2016) to mention but a few. There is therefore the urgent need for a long-lasting solution to this seemingly insurmountable problem that poses serious threat to human life, property and natural environment
There are several methods to prevent both domestic and other types of fires, as described in the following discussion.
.1. Electrical fires
Preventive measures include maintaining facilities in good condition to avoid overcharging, poor contact, and short circuits; avoiding the use of plugs and wires in poor conditions; and lowering the recommended gauge. Consumers should never replace fuses or circuit breaker for direct connections with wires or currencies, and should not overload electrical outlets with multiple devices connected at the same time, because the wires become hot and can cause a fire. One should never leave an electric iron on while doing something else, even for only a few minutes, as this has been frequently cited to cause fires. One should always ensure that the holes and air vents of home appliances (e.g., television and microwave ovens) are not located near any clothing material or decorative covers, and one must also avoid placing lamps, candles, and heaters near curtains, papers, or other combustible materials.2. Burnable gas fire
2.
One should handle gas cylinders with care to avoid falling or suffering from stroke. Gas cylinders should be stored in clean, well-ventilated, and oil-and-grease-free areas, and should be protected from the rain, sun, and other heat sources. Domestic gas cylinders should not be kept together with the stove, but should be placed outside the home and connected to metal pipes. If the gas is installed inside the house and a leak occurs, one should not strike a match or light up or turn off the lights. When installing a new cylinder, use soapy water to test for leaks; one should never use a flame for this purpose, but must remember that soap should not be used to seal leaks. When lighting a stove oven, strike the match first and then open the gas; if the house is unoccupied for an extended period, close the gas cock.
It is therefore a fact that the, increase in the yearly number of fire incidents could be attributed to the increase in human population. As the population increases, human activities involving the use of fire also increase, and more people tend to become careless while handling fire. noted that Ghana’s population increases yearly by a factor of 6.7%.Urbanization could be another reason for the increase of fire incidents in Ghana. This is because most people in rural areas move to big cities in search for greener pasture. Ghana, like most developing countries, is undergoing rapid urbanization. This rapid increase in urban population has exerted severe pressure on most cities’ limited infrastructure, the consequence of which includes the proliferation of informal and slum communities. In general, most dwellers in these settlements have become vulnerable to a wide range of disasters, particularly fire hazards. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on urban cities and leads to congestion in human settlements, hence creating more slum areas who know a little and don’t care about safety precautions.
Story: Frank Owusu Obimpeh
