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Case study: Improving paraffin safety in South Africa
Shell supports the Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA), which aims to halve the accidents and the effects of paraffin pollution by 2009.
The majority of paraffin–related accidents in South Africa involve children
Paraffin is by far the most popular fuel for low-income families in South Africa who buy a total of around 700 million litres a year of it for cooking, lighting and heating.
Care must be taken when using paraffin. It is poisonous when ingested, and highly flammable; it also contributes to indoor pollution. The majority of paraffin–related accidents involve children as they are more likely to drink paraffin thinking it is water, or be trapped in paraffin-related fires.
Each year 80,000 children ingest paraffin and 200,000 people are injured or lose property in paraffin-related fires.The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA), which Shell supports and funds along with five other oil companies, aims to halve the accidents and the effects of paraffin pollution by 2009.
PASASA - opens in new window is running education and awareness campaigns on paraffin safety, assisting in the creation of safety standards, and introducing practical steps to reduce accidents.
