A Nigerian-born Hazardous Material Specialist with New York City Fire Department, United States of America, Philip Nwabuoku, has described the Nnewi gas explosion which killed scores of people as a ‘preventable tragedy’.

He explained that propane is a high hazard product and can be defined as a chemically unstable gas that is able to react explosively even in the absence of oxygen and reacts with air at 20°C / 68°F at a standard pressure of 101.3 Kpa/14.69 PSI. He stressed that the gas is usually delivered in a closed system.

“In fact one requires certification to handle 20 pounds cylinder of propane gas. 15 pounds is recommended with care for outdoor use only because of its violent nature and penchant for explosion”, he stated.

According to him, a Nigerian newscaster attributed the cause of the incident to poor safety standards and lack of business knowledge, “but the truth is that government has a sacred obligation to safeguard lives and properties of its citizens. With oversight and the required regulation, the government would have mitigated this catastrophe.

“In light of this incident, members of the national and state assemblies and authorities having jurisdiction over safety and environmental issues should enact and enforce new measures to avoid a reoccurrence anywhere in Nigeria in the future. The deliberation must be made public and safety in work environments must be the focus. Labour employers must be mandated to educate their workers on the hazards of the job and keep the public out of harm’s way.”

He urged that operating and handling vessels of hazardous materials must be included in the discussion and comply with stringent standards.

According to him, unlicensed contractors must never be allowed to sign off on major projects to avoid unsafe and dangerous conditions. He stressed that this sector needed specialists to keep us safe as we navigate all areas of our emerging economy.