The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Monday, attributed 70 percent of incidents recorded in the oil and gas sector to downstream operations.
Among of these incidents come from fallen tankers, petrol station fires, gas explosion and vandalism.
The Director/ CEO, DPR, Engr. Sarki Auwalu, made this disclosure at the launching of the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream Operations (MISTDO) Program in Lagos.
MISTDO program mandates all downstream workers to undergo safety trainings at any DPR approved and published safety training provider of their choice in accordance with their job roles and the likely hazards they will encounter at work.
He stated that the growth of Nigeria’s downstream sector has resulted in increase of incidents leading to loss of lives, damage to properties and environmental pollution.
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“Some of these incidents have come from fallen tankers, petrol station fires, gas explosion and vandalism. Our records show that 70 percent of accidents in the Nigerian oil and gas industry between 2013 and 2019 occurred in the downstream sector.
“To reverse this trend, the Department has put in place enhanced regulatory strategies for downstream facilities’ development and operations monitoring targeted at the People, the Process and the Equipment.
“MISTDO program is specially designed to target the People i.e. workers in the downstream sector including petroleum tanker drivers and motor boys. This is because investigations into reported incidents in the sector show that the underlining cause is poor safety culture of workers and lack of knowledge which revealed serious training gaps.
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“These training gaps have made it difficult for workers to prevent or mitigate incidents when they occur, thereby escalating its consequence.”
He explained that the Department has ensured that companies responsible for such accidents develop a robust training program for its workers as part of the corrective actions implemented, “MISTDO offers a more proactive and holistic approach to adequately equip workers with basic safety trainings in their workplace by leveraging technology.
“In 2016, the Government introduced safety clearance policy which provides the basis for MISTDO program.”
The DPR boss noted that “Effective 1st September 2020, the Department shall commence enforcement of MISTDO for all downstream operations and facilities including LPG stations, retail outlets, petroleum product depots, jetties, lube plants, industrial gas users and petroleum truck drivers and motor boys in the following states – Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Rivers, Imo, Enugu, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa and Gombe.
“This implies that no personnel shall be permitted to engage in downstream operations without MISTDO training at facilities located in these states.
“Also, effective 1st January 2021, compliance shall be extended nationwide. In addition, effective 1st January 2021, the staff training requirements for every downstream facility operations license or Permit (New or Renewal) shall be based on MISTDO.”
