GNFS carries out fire audit in buildings in Tema

BENJAMIN GLOVER     18 JULY 2017

ACFO Frances Roskson (middle) and personnel of the GNFS examining a large size LPG installation outside the kitchen of Tema Senior High School

The Tema office of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has conducted fire audit in some institutions and high rise buildings in the metropolis to ascertain its preparedness in the event of a fire outbreak.

This forms part of the efforts by the GNFS to contain fire outbreaks in the metropolis.

The auditing was led by the Tema Regional Fire Service Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Ms Frances Rockson, her Deputy, Divisional Officer 1, Mr Timothy Affum, and other senior fire personnel in the region.

The team paid an unannounced visit to the Tema Senior High School where its members inspected fire safety measures in place in the school, especially the administration block, kitchen and dining hall.

The team also inspected the newly built eight floors of the TDC Towers at Tema Community Two where the members conducted a fire risk assessment of the structure to enable the GNFS plan for the future in the event of a fire outbreak.

The audit team ended its tour at the Tema Central Mall and Hotel where the members briefed the occupants of the buildings on what they should do to save their lives in case of a fire outbreak

Explanation

In an interview after the inspection, Ms Rockson said the exercise had become necessary because the GNFS had realised that some of the occupants of public and private buildings lacked knowledge in basic fire safety.

Ms Rockson said fire safety and prevention was a shared responsibility that began from the home with parents and employees at workplaces.

At the Tema Senior High School, she advised the management to install fire detectors on the administration block to help detect fire.

She also urged them to create another entrance at the school as a precautionary measure.

During a tour of the school’s kitchen, the team detected that gas cylinders had been placed in doorways, while some doors in the dining halls had been locked.

The regional CFO advised management to relocate the gas cylinders outside the kitchen and also open up the seal doors in the dining hall as a precautionary measure.

At the Tema TDC Towers, the team commended the facility managers for putting in place the needed safety and prevention mechanism to help combat fire.

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/gnfs-carries-out-fire-audit-in-buildings-in-tema.html