By Victory Bernard
We do not pray for Gas Fires. However, another explosion occurred recently at Opic Plaza close to Sheraton Hotel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Ikeja, on the 17th of June. A fatal one, the incident involving an LPG truck in motion, led to destruction of lots of properties including 25 vehicles, the damage of the Opic Plaza structure; more than 10 injuries and about 5 deaths.
Cause of Gas Explosion
On arrival at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that a Gas tanker 13.5 Tons LPG truck in motion was leaking its content and as a result of wind action. Close investigation revealed that the LPG gas was ignited by the exposed fire from the kitchen of the New Chinese restaurant which followed the trail of the LPG gas resulting the combustion of the gas tanker outside the compound.
Casualty/ Fatalities
According to report, 13 causalities with various degrees of burns were recorded at the scene of the incident and they were attended to by the Pre-hospital care unit of LRU and transported to LASUTH and Gbagada General Hospital for further treatment.
Unfortunately three adult males were further discovered dead at the incident site early hours of today, their bodies were bagged and handed over to SEHMU for transport to the morgue. Also, two victims were later reported dead while under medical attention at LASUTH.
Safety Experts Lament
Speaking with HSENations, HSE Practitioner and Project Safety Supervisor, Hybrid Group, Waliu Adegoke, stressed that the work of safety was beyond paper work implementation. According to him, more needed to be done in ensuring practical implementation of established procedures in organizations.
He said, “This gas incidents has become a reoccurrence and I think more needs to done to put a stop to it. As safety professionals, it is believed that we should first be selfless about providing our services to the general state of safety in Nigeria. Most safety organizations today are mostly after what they will benefit and apparently no real hidden passion.”
“There is a wide range of gap between establishing health and safety policies, procedures, regulations, and its complete implementation. We have so many regulations, established documented procedures that beautifies the establishment of health and safety in Lagos state and Nigeria as a whole, but when it comes to its implementation.”
“Most safety experts who are supposed to fill the gap and be selfless, give advises, ensure implementation, follow up, advocate and create platforms for changing the narratives of health and safety in Nigeria as a whole, are unfortunately after their own personal benefits,” he said.
A Generalist in Health, Safety and Environment, Fyneray Mbata, stated that the inferno could have been avoided as he stressed the need for stronger risk management and handling of hazardous substances by trucks.
“This is another incident too many to be. The inferno would have be avoided. Operational Risk Management ensures that there are adequate controls that can contain hazards from being released to cause harm to targets,” he said.
He said further, “Trucking and handling of Hydrocarbons is a hazardous operation that require adequate risk mitigation efforts. Hydrocarbons are hazardous substances which should be transported in very safe tanker trucks.”
“The truck owners did not do enough due diligence to ensure the integrity of the trucks were checked to avoid leakages and loss of containment.”
“How regular were the trucks quality checked? Were the drivers and mates trained in tips for safe trucking of hydrocarbons? Again, the transport regulatory agencies, e.g, VIO need to increase their level of inspections before issuing roadworthy certifications.”
“From the incident, it is obvious that fuel depot do not have an operable contingency plan, which need to be rehearsed to ensure combat readiness to deal with situation like this. Response plan and recovery measures were obviously poorly implemented,” he said.
He called on the Lagos State Safety Commission to do more of enforcement to embed safety culture in all commercial and industrial facilities in order to guarantee public safety.
Conclusion/Safety Recommendation
As part of safety precautions, it is important that all tanker trucks conveying volatile gases should ensure their trucks are road worthy before embarking on a journey. Also, all commercial buildings should develop an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and Fire Preventive Plan (FPP) in case of an emergency. In case of an emergency, the Lagos State Emergency toll free line 112/767 should be activated.
