Gas cylinder shops, like the one in the picture, pose a safety threat, says an expert. — Okaz photo JEDDAH – Many shops selling gas cylinders are “ticking time bombs” because owners do not follow proper government safety procedures and have set up their businesses in densely-populated areas, reported Al-Hayat Arabic daily on Saturday. If these cylinders explode they can cause severe injuries, according to Dr. Adnan Al-Hashimi, a safety expert. He said these shops do not follow safety measures drafted by the Civil Defense and Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. They also do not have extinguishers and water cooling systems. If a 25 pound gas cylinder explodes, it will covers an area of 15 square meters. If a 50 pound cylinder explodes it will cover 50 square meters, he pointed out. Abdul Aziz Hassan, a citizen, said these shops are in a poor state, which increases the risk of explosions. The cylinders are also rusty. A worker at one of these shops admitted that that there are only three old fire extinguishers which the workers do know how to operate. They are also not aware of safety measures. Another expert suggested that a company should be set up to distribute gas cylinders door-to-door in safe and secure trucks.
