Total Plc fights petroleum tanker accidents with training

Apart from the loss of volumes of petroleum products, these accidents have dispatched many to their untimely grave in a gruesome manner Last month, a petrol tanker driver in Igwuruta, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, lost control and fell on its side, spilling petrol and setting off a fire. An entire neighbourhood, consisting of 25 […]

Apart from the loss of volumes of petroleum products, these accidents have dispatched many to their untimely grave in a gruesome manner

Last month, a petrol tanker driver in Igwuruta, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, lost control and fell on its side, spilling petrol and setting off a fire.

An entire neighbourhood, consisting of 25 buildings, was completely razed and six residents burnt to death.

Currently, there is no valid figure of the number of those that have died in Nigeria due to petrol tanker accident.

One of the causes of the accident, observers say, is the bad network of roads in the country which has subjected the drivers to dangerous meandering.

But the major cause of the accident is attributed to dangerous driving by the tanker drivers, who most times see themselves as the king of the road. That is why investigation into most of the accidents have been traced to recklessness, drunkenness, fatigue and lack of skills by the drivers.

Therefore, there has been increased calls for these drivers to be trained periodically in order to minimize unnecessary loss of lives and resources.

Total Nigeria Plc has keyed into this following the recent commissioning of its ultra modern truck drivers training school and truck inspection centre (TDTS) located in Ibadan, Oyo state

Managing Director of the petroleum marketing company, Francoise Boussagol said the project was informed by the need to help reduce accidents on the highways.

He said the project is both   part of the company’s corporate social responsibility and its response to road safety issues, which has endangered lives and properties in recent times.

According to him, the institute stated operations fully last year and  had been able to train over 1400 truck drivers. Adding that plans were currently in advance stage to commence the second phase, which would admit external professional drivers.

He explained that the need to establish the training school was informed by, the challenging transportation environment, where the road had been poor and inadequate.

He said the training sessions would be conducted in English and the three major Nigerian languages with pictorial and extensive practical classes.

“The TDTS which started operations on March 2011 is designed to provide an ideal environment for comprehensive training of truck drivers after which they will be equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills required to drive trucks moving hazardous goods.

‘’Drivers training cover, petroleum products characteristics, fire characteristics and truck driving techniques, including braking, power transmission and rollover theories among others.

‘’In addition to training, medical teams are invited to carry out eye tests, as well as demonstrate the effect of alcohol on vision in the class. Total Nigeria transporters, who are the strategic partners in the school project and employers of these drivers, are also trained in the school annually on transport safety as they have vital roles to play in ensuring that the drivers comply with safety rules. In 2011, the school trained over 1400 Total Nigeria Plc truck drivers.

‘’The school has three classrooms and an auditorium with a combined sitting capacity of 140 students. The facilities for practical sessions include laboratory, audiovisual room, accident intervention and fire fighting platforms as well as loading gantry. The school will be opened to other oil industry truck drivers’’.

According to him, plans were in full gear to start the second phase, which would admit external professional drivers.

He explained that the second phase of the TDTS is the track centre, which will offer a unique opportunity to drivers to spend more time behind the wheel, learning by practice in safe conditions and how to manage dangerous situations.

“In addition, it is intended to open the centre to external professional drivers. Such Track Centre requires, at least 17 hectares of land, 2.7kms of tracks coated with a specific professional painting, fully irrigated.’’