Safety Against Gas Explosion: Whose Responsibility?

Safety against gas explosions will largely depend on two key players; the government, and the people. Nairobi is a city with many people, just like any other city. The residents of the city depend on gas for cooking. If you go to any estate, there is a point where you can go and get a refilled gas when yours is emptied up. In Embakasi for instance, you get these points after every 500 metres, and they seem not to be enough.

Rarely do we hear of gas explosions in people’s houses, but we have heard of fire outbreaks as a result of faulty electrical connections. The recent gas explosion in the city did not get any of us unawares but rather the laxity of some responsible officers. Earlier today, the National Environmental Management Authority issued a statement implicating some of its officials.

Various media houses have reported that the gas-filling plant where the explosion occurred had been denied an ESIA license and had a case in court. Surprisingly, an official of NEMA went ahead and cleared the company for operation, oblivious to the fact that it was situated in a residential area.
The residents also had raised complaints concerning the gas leaks but nothing was done.

The residents raised complaints concerning the gas leaks but nothing was done. This was the first step towards protecting themselves. But was it enough? I say No. Because if the residents knew of the gas leaks and the illegal activities that took place at night, the proactive thing to do is to leave the area.

Read more here

How to protect yourself from gas explosions

1. Live away from the areas with gas filling plats
2. Report any illegal activity to the authorities
3. Ask the government to install gas leaks
4. Ensure compliance by the gas operators
5. Regular maintenance of the gas equipment
6. Know what to look out for when there’s a gas leak: rotten egg-like gas smell, hissing noises near gas appliances, dead plants next to outside gas lines.
7. Keep flammable materials away
8. Those who work at the gas utility stations should observe safety.