Companies cited for not complying with fire regulations
Back in September of last year, twenty-four year old Elton Herrera, an employee of Brown’s Butane Gas Service, lost his life when a faulty gas tank exploded on Mopan Street. His death sparked an investigation on safety measures implemented by butane gas operators. Both the departments of Fire and the Environment, the Belize Defence Force and the Trade License Board have completed their inquiry and have found that least three companies are not complying with regulations. News Five’s Duane Moody was at City Hall when their report was released.
Duane Moody, Reporting
After months of investigation, it is concluded that three companies are to either relocate or cease operation. Two other companies, Gastomza and BWEL were found to have the required measures in place.
Aldo Cansino, Environmental Officer, D.O.E.
Aldo Cansino
“Our recommendation to the Belize City Council was that three of the butane stations, because of their locations, are not adequate. One is Brown’s Butane, the other is Philip Neal’s and the third is Andrew Flowers’. Our recommendation is that the City Council does not renew trade license and that the B.D.F. does not renew permit.”
According to the findings, there have been violations in the protocols under which butane companies operate.
Aldo Cansino
“One of the findings that we noticed was that firstly, none of the butane stations or I think only one had a permit to store because there are various factors when you operate butane. First you need to get a permit to store butane and that permit is gotten from the B.D.F. Secondly, one of the things that we looked at was that we have established some standards for butane operations. Actually we have environmental guidelines for depots and distribution outlets for liquefied petroleum gas and that was developed by Department of Environment, the National Fire service and Public Health Bureau. One of the main things that you have to look at is the site, the location. I think three of these butane stations could not meet these setbacks. There was no way that two of them, if they tried to expand, had the availability of land to expand. We don’t want these types of industries within residential areas, or any area where you will have a lot of people congregated at any one point: for example; schools, churches, hospitals etcetera. By establishing any site in these areas, you maximize the potential for accidents.”
Since the fatal incident last year, Michael Middleton of the National Fire Service has been adamant about the safety of employees.
Michael Middleton
Michael Middleton, Divisional Officer, Nat’l Fire Service
“We found out that quite a few of these butane operators have been operating without any regards for safety. We find out that they have their businesses set up in a very haphazard manner, no kind of safety measures in place and to understand butane is a very dangerous product. We found out that even butane employees do not know anything of the product that they are dealing with. The one on Central American Boulevard, even before that establishment was granted a license the National Fire Service objected to that site being placed due to the location right next to a school and residential area.”
But the owner of Southside Butane Depot, Andrew Flowers, says his license was approved over three years ago and if his company is in violation of the Dangerous Goods Act, then hotels should be addressed as well.
Andrew Flowers, Owner, Southside Butane Depot
Andrew Flowers
“I got an approval from the Fire Department, the Environmental Department, the Belize City Council and lastly the Department of Defense—all these people that gave me an approval. So to come and say now that we’re gonna close you down because you’re not safe, then why did they approve my license? I have nowhere to go. If you are gonna put me in a proper place and good business like here, then fine. If they come after me then they must remember that they must go after all these major hotels that are operating with the same LPG gas. Some of these hotels are operating with more fuel that I am using here and the consequences are much more explosive because they are operating from a tank to an open flame.”
The city’s trade licenses board, chaired by Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers, will have an urgent meeting later this week to decide a date by which these companies are to relocate or close shop. Duane Moody, reporting for News Five.
