Public Advised to Stop Repainting Rusty Gas Cylinders

Assistant Station Officer (ASO), Mr. Ofori Collins, Hohoe Municipal Fire Safety Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), has cautioned the public not to repaint rusted gas cylinders as a means of recycling them.

He emphasized that the practice of repainting rusted cylinders only enhances the outward appearance without improving its structuring capability.

During a sensitization forum at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hohoe, ASO Ofori outlined numerous safety precautions:

• Refrain from overfilling gas cylinders to extend the usage period. He mentioned that gas attendants are taught to follow particular requirements for each cylinder’s capacity, hence exceeding these limitations can be risky.
• Replace faulty regulators promptly: ASO Ofori condemns the practice of putting stones on cylinders to manage regulatory faults. He emphasized that individuals should rather have those faults repaired as these practices can lead to fire outbreaks.
• Avoid multitasking while cooking: People who multitask while cooking are very likely to be careless, which can lead to fire outbreaks.
• Turn off electrical appliances when away: To reduce the possibility of a fire outbreak, it is crucial to turn off all electrical appliances before leaving the house, regardless of how long you plan to be gone.

ASO Ofori emphasized that personal irresponsibility is the main of the nation’s numerous avoidable fire outbreaks. He asked people to put safety first, stressing that the Fire Service should be the first point of call in the case of a fire outbreak.