B/A/B : Don’t overfill gas cylinders: Fire service cautions households

B/A/B : Don’t overfill gas cylinders: Fire service cautions households

According to the service, gas cylinders has been made in such a way that there should be some space left inside after filling for expansion purposes. However, some people tend to load them, filling up such space.

Assistant Station Officer Richmond Appiah (ASTNO) of the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai ( GNFS) gave the caution during public education on Stylish Radio on how to reduce fires during and after the harmattan.

“Some people fill the LPG cylinder and ask the attendant to add more gas to it. It is a dangerous practice because fuel, like petrol and gases expand. So if the weather is too hot in this harmattan season and the gas expands, it gets enough space. But if you fill it to the brim and the weather is too hot, and your cylinder is old the possibility of a blast is high.

“Even though a lot of the attendants at the filling points are aware, they will add more gas if you ask them to do so because they need their money. We are in the harmattan season, and we urge everyone to be cautious,” he said.

Precautionary measures

He also advised households to keep their gas cylinders in open spaces, noting that those in the kitchen should have some space to allow any leakages that may be coming from the LPG cylinders nozzle, valves or tubes to dissipate and not stay in the room as that could accumulate and cause fire outbreak.

“When you go to the filling point to fill up, make sure the washer on the cylinder is replaced to avoid leakages.

“What we have observed is that most of the washers on the market now are inferior. So if you don’t change anytime you refill, you’re posing danger to your home.This will prevent leakages on worn-out washers,” he explained.

Preparation

As part of the service’s preparation to minimise the rate of fires during the harmattan, Assistant Station Officer Richmond Appiah (ASTNO) said it had rolled out intensive education campaigns including forming task forces to enforce fire safety regulations in public places including markets.

Source: Bibianinews. com