NDMA Conducts Pilot Risk Assessment on Four Fuel Stations
Ibrahim Hashim The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) with support from the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), has over the weekend conducted a pilot risk assessment and hazard profiling of four fuel stations (Leonco – Congo Cross, Total – Bus Halt, NP – Siaka Stevens Street and Malador – Dwazark Junction) in Freetown.
NDMA made this disclosure in a press release issued on 14 February, 2022. According to NDMA, the risk assessment is designed to be rolled out across the country.
“The assessment is geared towards identifying fuel stations that are constructed in unfavourable locations and posed threat to lives and properties within their operational surroundings,” they stated.
The National Disaster Management Agency noted that the exercise will also determine the level of compliance with respect to safety measures in place to adequately forestall any unforeseen circumstances that may emerge.
The team critically assessed the capacity of handling explosion and spillage, type of fire extinguisher in possession, the safety of staff, the status of storage tanks and dispensers, use of signages and the availability of tank ventilators.
The assessment was done using a specialized tool called ‘KOBO’, developed by the NDMA to collect accurate data, GPS coordinates, and sequentially categorize fuel stations deemed to be ‘most unfit’ to operate in the country.