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Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Limited (GCMCL) in an effort to end gas explosions at filling stations has organized a one day training program together with Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) for LPG Filling Station attendants at Koforidua to ensure safety in LPG usage.

The training program which is the third of its kind conveyed LPG Filling Station attendants from Koforidua and Volta Region; thus the first training was organized in 2014 at Tema and the second one was organized in 2016 at Kasoa.

Speaking at the program, the Production and Technical Manager, Mr. Ezekiel Mensa, noted that with the spate of fire outbreaks at most filling stations across the country with the recent one happening at La which took lives of many people and left others in a very critical condition, the training will improve the skills of the attendants and equip their knowledge to enable them pass on to the customers.

Mr. Ezekiel Mensah also revealed that about 800 filling station attendants have been targeted to be trained in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central and Volta regions.

“The aim is to protect Ghanaians, especially women and children from harm during the usage of LPG which the government is poised to ensure that over 50 percent of Ghanaians use LPG at their homes rather than firewood,” he averred.

“It is due to this aim of the government to promote the wider use of LPG and the perceived dangers associated with the usage of LPG that has compeled our company to apply for grant from the government to help train LPG Filling Station attendants to help in our educational drive,” he added.

He stressed GCMCL is confident that upgrading the skills of LPG filling station attendants will help in identifying faulty cylinders and possibly refer them to GCMCL for refurbishment, which in effect prevent needless gas explosions and causes of gas fires.

“It will equip the attendants with the skills and knowledge required to educate consumers on safety issues since they usually come into direct contact with consumers,” he stressed.

“We strongly believe that adoption of appropriate measures by the filling station attendants and advising consumers on safe handling of cylinders will go a long way to reduce gas explosion in the country,” he reiterated.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Billy Anaglatey said the training is very necessary and called on filling station owners to ensure that they regularly undertake such training programs for their attendants as required by law.