Winter is not far off and with that comes the increased risk of fire hazards as gas stoves, heaters and fires are used more frequently. In 2014, 2 090 people burnt to death in Gauteng and shack fires behind the majority of these deaths. Are you prepared for the possibility of a fire?
As the colder months approach, naturally the use of open fires and gas appliances is on the rise. Your business is your pride and joy – the last thing you would want is to see your livelihood literally going up in flames due to carelessness when a disaster could be averted. Take care with these safety methods when using gas or an open flame for your shisanyama, cooking or for heating and protect your tavern.
Winter is not far off and with that comes the increased risk of fire hazards as gas stoves, heaters and fires are used more frequently.
As liquid petroleum gas (LPG) is highly flammable, take these safety precautions into consideration when having an LPG appliance installed at your premises.
As part of the National Health and Safety Act, installation of an open system must be performed by a registered installer who will be able to produce a certificate of registration to prove this. Not only is this a legal requirement but in the event of a fire breaking out at your premises, your insurance will not cover damage caused by an unregistered installation. You will also need to obtain a certificate of conformity for gas appliances from the installer.
Give some thought to where you buy your gas canisters. A reputable dealer in LPG will check the canister when you bring it in to be refilled, and ensure that the canister is safe for reuse. If you’re not using a licensed dealer, you run the risk of using canisters which are overfilled. An overfilled canister could explode.
Ensure the gas cylinder has the logo of the company on it with a serial number around the valve. For a list of reputable gas dealers visit: www.lpgas.co.za
If you smell gas in your premises when you think everything is switched off, act immediately! Turn the gas off at the source and put out any open flame. Once this is done, you can ventilate the area to get rid of the smell. Be wary of operating any electrical device until the gas smell has cleared, as a spark could set off a fire. Do not light that cigarette! If you suspect there is a gas leakage, get a registered LPG gas installer to check appliances and canisters to find the source and repair it.
Be proactive: make sure your premises are insured for fire damage, that you have the correct fire safety equipment and that your staff are trained on how to use it.
Visit www.healthandsafetytrainingsa.co.za or call 0860 723 389 for first aid and firefighting training as well as purchasing fire safety equipment. You can also purchase fire safety equipment from www.safequip.co.za or call 011 397 7723.