Be mentally alert whenever handling gas cylinders - Mojola tells gas retailers

By Kayode Olopade 

The Lagos State Safety Commission on Thursday set safety standards for retail gas operators in the state by telling them to always be  mentally alert anytime they are handling gas cylinders. 

The Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, in his keynote address at a one-day training programme organised in conjunction with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos, said the move became necessary because “failure to put safety first in everything we do, can end up in any disaster,  even can lead to loss of lives and properties". 

He maintained that life is so important and precious, which when the unexpected happened could not be replaced, hence the need      to take safety first, which eventually culminated in the training. 

He noted that the programme was organised to find a solution to incessant gas explosions and fire incidences that often lead to the loss of lives and property in the state.

"Let me reiterate that LPG retailers plays important and crucial roles in our society and that is why they should always be  mentally alert anytime they are handling gas cylinders because all our properties and goods can be replaced, but once any life is lost, it cannot be replaced", Mojola said. 

He also recalled that we have had a number of incidents in the state, but emphasized that it is always the the intention of the state government to have zero-accident free in our society but that all should carry out their day to day activities in a safe and perfect manner. 

"It is the intention of the state government to have zero-accident free in the state and indeed we can ensure we achieve it by ensuring proper training of these set of operators on the safe handling of their equipments, disaster management,  emergency management, fire controlled and others. 

Mojola called on gas retailers to always avoid four likely major reasons that causes accidents like rushing to load cylinders or handling equipments without proper understanding. Also mentioned fatigue, frustration and complacency as other reasons, just as he warned operators to avoid all. 

He urged the participants to learn, unlearn, relearn, and cascade knowledge impacted colleagues and their organisations.

“We are convinced that at the end of this annual exercise, Lagos will become a safer place for all,” he said,

Also earlier in his welcome address, the Director, Inspectorate and Monitoring, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Babatunde Ashiyanbi, added that the purpose of the training was to sensitise retailers on the safety acts and conditions required to ensure gas explosions and other associated fire incidents are prevented and controlled.

Also in his contribution, the National Chairman, Liquid and Petroleum Gas retailers association, Comrade Ayobami Olarinmoye,, commend the move and action of the Lagos State Safety Commission, especially, the regular training for their members. 

Different papers were presented by safety experts