By Laudia Sawer
Tema, May 12, GNA – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has urged haulage companies involved in the road transportation of hazardous goods to have an in-house safety and health officer to conduct its activities.
Mr. Emmanuel Ampadu, and Mr. Andrews Amoah, officers from the Chemicals Control and Management Centre of the EPA, made the call during a sensitisation workshop for transit haulage truck drivers in Tema organised by the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA).
They noted that it was a must to have a safety officer as it was the responsibility of the company transporting hazardous cargoes to protect assets, the environment and human beings.
They explained that the duty of a safety or health officer includes ensuring that the vehicle that is being used was safe for use and goods properly transported in accordance with required safety measures.
The EPA officials added that the safety officer needs to present an annual report to the company to address any lapses in the transportation process and logistics, reiterating the importance of having a safety and health officer.
They however indicated that the responsibility was not only on the company and the safety officer but also on the driver, indicating that drivers must perform a visual inspection on their vehicles daily before moving onto the roads.
“You have to check your tyres, the lightening on the vehicle, everything must be right on your vehicle before you move your vehicle because it is also your responsibility to protect the environment and people.”
The officials added that, “When there is something wrong with your vehicle don’t move, get the safety officer so the safety officer can tell management then the thing can be resolved.”
They also emphasised that drivers need to understand or have knowledge about the goods they were carrying, “you cannot carry a goods you don’t understand or have any information about it.”
According to them, it was the duty of the company owners to take the drivers through the document known as material safety data sheet, explaining that the sheet was contains information on the product or goods being carried, and its composition.
The chemical control officers also cautioned the drivers against changing their route stressing that “As a driver if the route is for you to use Community One to Community Three, don’t pass through Ashaiman to Community Three, please follow the route.”
They also advised them against panicking when they observe a fault on their vehicles but should rather remain calm as being in a haste could lead to making of lots of mistakes putting people’s lives in danger especially when carrying hazardous goods.
“Keep calm and call the police and your supervisor. You the the driver shouldn’t leave your vehicle unattended to. If your co-driver is not there don’t leave the vehicle unattended to. Only the driver, co-driver and escort can enter the vehicle if there is anything that needs to be done.”
The EPA officials further indicated that it was important that the company and its safety officers must have an emergency response plan which spells out what to do when there is an accident or what to do when the car is faulty.
They urged haulage companies to train their drivers and officers on their emergency response plans to help them get the understanding of what to do in an emergency to safeguard lives and properties.
They further cautioned the drivers against use of slippers in driving as it could slip off the pedals and cause crashes, adding that they must also ensure that their fire extinguishers are in good condition.
GNA
LS/BM