REFILLING LPG SAFELY: The Department of Energy through its Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) together with oil industry stakeholders has developed a Code of Safety Practices in LPG Refilling Plants to guide officers, personnel and other staff on appropriate and safe processes in an LPG refilling plant. Director Rino E. Abad (center), OIC for OIMB, together with technical staff and industry stakeholders, led the signing ceremony for the safety code last 9 November at the DOE-AVR in Taguig City.
(Taguig City). “Safety First” is the resounding directive of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi in dealing with energy use, particularly in addressing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-related accidents.
Cusi underscored this as the Department of Energy (DOE) released a unified Code of Safety Practices in LPG Refilling Plants as part of its aggressive campaign for safer use of LPG.
“The Code of Safety supports the DOE’s E-Safety Mo Campaign as we commit to strengthen consumer protection against illegal peddling and use of petroleum products, including LPG,” Cusi said.
With the substantial contributions from industry stakeholders, the Code of Safety Practices in LPG Refilling Plants outlines the safety standard operating procedures as follows:
1. Tank Truck & Lorry Entry Procedure: a) Vehicle Safety Entry Check (Minimum Requirements) – Tank Truck Operation and b) Vehicle Safety Entry Check (Minimum Requirements) – Lorry Operation. Requirements include tasks of the the officers, personnel and drivers as well as specifications for vehicles transporting and distributing LPG in cylinders.
2. Cylinder Refilling Procedure: This includes requirements for: a) counting check of empty cylinders; b) segregating of cylinders for repair, repaint, requalification, scrap or non-conforming, good and others; c) unloading of brand-new and requalified-repair cylinders from supplier/vendor; and d) filling of cylinders using electronic manual filling machines.
3. LPG Cylinders Housekeeping and Preventive Maintenance: This covers specific requirements for: a) LPG Cylinders Housekeeping and b) General Preventive Maintenance.
4. Fire Drill and Fire Marshall, which includes conduct of activities concerning: a) Fire and Evacuation Drill; b) Procedures Before and During Fire Drill; c) Fire Tetrahedron Theory; d) Basic Fire Safety; and e) Fire Extinguisher.
5. Personnel Training Requirements: This includes needs for: a) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Product Knowledge; b) Basic Fire Fighting Seminar (BFFS); c) First Aid Training Seminar (FATS); and d) Basic Occupational Safety and Health Seminar (BOSH).
Last 9 November, the DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) together with oil industry stakeholders led the signing ceremony of the safety guidelines for LPG Refilling Plant participants.
The event was attended and witnessed by the Philippine Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (PLPGA), Liquefied Petroleum Gas Refillers Association (LPGRA), Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industry Association (LPGIA) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association (LPGMA), Department of the Interior and Local Government- Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Department of Labor and Employment-Bureau of Working Conditions and Occupational Safety and Health Center.
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