National Paraffin Incident Surveillance System: briefing by Paraffin Safety Association

ECONOMIC AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE
31 January 2007
NATIONAL PARAFFIN INCIDENT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM: BRIEFING BY PARAFFIN SAFETY ASSOCIATION

Chairperson: Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC)

Documents handed out
Paraffin Safety Association presentation

Paraffin Safety Association website

SUMMARY
The Committee heard a presentation by the Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa on the development of a national incident surveillance system that would pinpoint the rate of incidences of accidents that occur from the dangers accompanying the usage of paraffin, including poisoning through ingestion, inhalation and fire incidents. This system, which uses a Geographic Information System (GIS), has already been piloted by collecting data from the Prince Mishiyeni hospital in Kwazulu Natal. There was general consensus that this system would be beneficial in solving the problems associated with paraffin usage.

MINUTES
The team from the Paraffin Safety Association gave a presentation on the organisation and on its development of a national incident surveillance system.

Mr P Kulati (Managing Director) introduced the organsiation as a pressure group that focuses on raising awareness on the safe usage of paraffin in the household. He gave a profile of paraffin users and the extent to which this product is used. Mr G Truran (General manager of Paraffin Safety Association) outlined the various categories of risk due to improper paraffin usage including poisoning, inhalation and fires. As the second most commonly used fuel for cooking and heating paraffin, it was imperative to promote paraffin safety in various ways such as educating users, use of better packaging by suppliers and use of safer appliances. Mr Dehran Swart, Manager: Research and Education, spoke about the research they were conducting to develop a GIS system that would act as a means of surveillance of the various paraffin incidences. He showed and explained the various maps and graphs that illustrated the data collected from A pilot study at Prince Mishiyeni hospital.

Discussion
Mr J Sibiya (ANC) wished to know how accessible the organization is to all areas and how people could gain access to the organization.

Mr P Kulati responded that the organization had three regional offices in the country. The office in Johannesburg serves the Limpopo, Gauteng and North West regions. The office in Kwazulu Natal serves that area and the Free State as well as Mpumalanga provinces. The head office in Cape Town serves the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape.

Mr Sibiya asked if the organization was collaborating with other NGOs.

Mr Kulati responded that they collaborated with local government in dealing with area-specific interventions. In Cape Town they work with Disaster Management and are still to work with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).

Mr N Hendricks (UIF) raised concern about the organization being a pressure group that is funded by various oil companies. He was concerned about the extent to which these companies had an influence on the organization.

Mr Kulati responded that they remain an association that mobilizes people to address issues of packaging and safety. Although the oil companies funded them they remain independent.

Mr Hendricks spoke about the ‘wonder box’, which was used in the mid 70’s to heat up food. This box provided minimum time on the stove.

Mr D Gamede (ANC) also raised the issue of the organization being a pressure group and get funding from oil companies. He wanted to know how the organization puts pressure on their funders.

Mr Gamede asked about the environmental impact of the usage of paraffin.

Mr Truran responded that when it comes to issues of global warming, the use electricity is no better than that of paraffin. The use of safer and proper appliances would ensure a better burning process of the paraffin and therefore cause less pollution.

Mr Gamede asked how the government could intervene.

Mr Truran responded that government could provide a clear mandate to make paraffin use safer. The organization was lobbying the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that the proper packaging of paraffin compulsory.

Ms Matlaya believed that there should be prosecution of negligent parents and that nothing seemed to be done about this. She suggested that the colour of paraffin be that of methylated spirits because it is hardly reported that children drink this.

Mr Truran responded that coloured paraffin was only used in Australia and the reliability of this could not be determined due to lack of research. The usage of better packaging with clear and easy to understand warning signs was a better option than using coloured paraffin. It is mostly young children who drink paraffin and it is hard for them to tell the difference between colours.

Ms A Qikani (UDM) shared her experience as a burn victim and explained the mistakes she made in causing the fire. She suggested that there be education on how paraffin is used and the extra safety precautions to be taken when handling paraffin. The process of how paraffin works need to be taught to users so they understand what they are dealing with. She further suggested that schools should be used as educational bases.

Mr Swart thanked Ms Qikani for sharing her story and for her suggestions. He said that the organization had developed educational material for Grade R pupils on paraffin safety. They are busy with material for Grade 7 pupils.

The team from the Paraffin Safety Association thanked the committee members for all their suggestions. It pleaded with committee members to be champions of paraffin safety to ensure that all role players see the importance of it.

Mr Sibiya, who was now acting chair, stressed the importance of communication between the organization and member of the committee so that they can work together to deal with this problem.

The meeting was adjourned.