XN000022-1982-06-15 — Page 4

"ESDA", JUNE

ALL THESE, COMBINED WITH PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDLING AND STORAGE, SHOULD DO MUCH TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THIS FORM OF GAS SUPPLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF SENSIBLE HANDLING BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THEMSELVES CANNOT BE OVER-EMPHASISED.

+CYLINDERS MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO SUFFER IMPACT DAMAGE AND MUST AT ALL TIMES BE KEPT AWAY FROM ANY SOURCE OF HEAT, HE STRESSED.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE A SUSTAINED CAMPAIGN OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO COVER THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

EXPANSION OF SUPPLIES OF PIPED GAS

THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECOGNISED THAT A PIPED FORM OF GAS SUPPLY (WHETHER BY TOWNGAS OR FROM LOCAL BULK LPG INSTALLATIONS) IS INHERENTLY MUCH SAFER THAN CYLINDERS. SO THE IMPORTANT DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN THAT, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE THE PROVISION OF PIPED GAS SUPPLIES TO ALL NEW DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS.

THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED PARTLY BY MAKING A PIPED GAS SUPPLY ONE OF THE CONDITIONS WHICH HAVE TO BE MET TO OBTAIN BUILDINGS ORDINANCE APPROVAL FOR NEW BUILDINGS, AND PARTLY BE ENCOURAGING THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXTENSIVE SUPPLY OF PIPED GAS.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, WE ARE AWARE THAT THE GAS COMPANY ARE PLANNING A MAJOR EXTENSION OF THEIR SUPPLY NETWORK PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTION CAPACITY, ALONG WITH BULK LPG INSTALLATIONS, THESE EXPANSION PLANS WILL ENSURE THAT WE ACHIEVE OUR AIM OF MAKING PIPED GAS AVAILABLE TO ALL NEW DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS. THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THESE EXPANSION PLANS AND WILL PROVIDE WHATEVER ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE, HE SAID.

INSTALLATION WORK

THE GOVERNMENT ALSO INTENDS TO INTRODUCE CONTROLS OVER GAS INSTALLATION WORK WHERE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LPG SECTOR, UNIFORMLY HIGH SAFETY STANDARDS ARE NOT ALWAYS ACHIEVED BECAUSE OF THE FRAGMENTED NATURE OF THE BUSINESS,

IN FUTURE AN INSTALLER WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK HE CARRIES OUT COMPLIES WITH APPROPRIATE CODES OF PRACTICE ALSO THAT HE EMPLOYS OPERATIVES WHO ARE PROPERLY QUALIFIED IN BASIC GAS FITTING SKILLS.

LEGISLATION

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO BACK UP MEASURES FOR ENSURING GAS SAFETY. THIS WILL INCLUDE AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, THE DANGEROUS GOODS ORDINANCE AND A NEW BILL COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF GAS SAFETY.

PROGRESS ACHIEVED SO FAR

THE SPOKESMAN REPORTED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE MEASURES TAKEN ON GAS WATER HEATERS AND LPG CYLINDERS, SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAJ ALSO BEEN MADE IN OTHER ASPECTS OF GAS SAFETY.