Barbecue Season Is In Full Swing: Don’t Go Up In Flames
The joys of outdoor cooking also bring fire and associated risks. Here are some safety reminders for gas and propane barbecues to protect you and your property from harm or damage.
• Never operate a barbecue in an enclosed space, close to a structure, or near combustibles. Have a one metre radius around it free of obstructions.
• Keep your barbecue in tip top shape. Check for hose breakage, valve leaks, and other parts before securing the tank well and turning on the gas.
• When in use, never leave the grill unattended, and when finished turn the tank off before the burners so the remaining gas in the lines can burn off. This can help prevent a flash the next time the BBQ is in use.
• Make sure your fire extinguisher is easily accessible and in good working order.
Additional Tips
• Propane companies use an additive to create an unpleasant odour like rotten eggs to make a propane leak easier to detect, so you can shut off supply immediately, stop using the grill, and clear the area.
• Although the risk of carbon monoxide is low when using a BBQ outdoors, it is not entirely eliminated. Learn to recognize the signs of CO2 poisoning and take appropriate action.
• Store propane tanks in an upright position, in a spot where they are unlikely to be knocked or bumped to prevent any safety risk.
Beware of Stiffer Penalties for Stunt Driving & Speeding
It is never wise to take out your frustrations or exhibit risky or reckless behavior when you are behind the wheel of any vehicle. Now there are stiffer penalties for those who do.
The Moving Ontarians More Safely Act 2021, known as the MOMS Act, defines stronger stunt and aggressive driving penalties for offenders.
Regarding stunt driving, if the posted speed limit is 80 km/hour or higher, the criteria remains driving 80 km/hour that limit.
However, if the posted speed limit is less than 80 km/hour, driving 40 km/hour over that limit is now classed as stunt driving.
Another change involves impounding vehicles stopped at the roadside by the authorities. Now the limit is 2 weeks, up from 1 week.
If charged with stunt driving, the roadside impoundment is immediate, and includes a 30 day licence suspension.
The MOMS Act also introduces measures to protect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and highway workers, improve truck safety, and strengthen the provincial oversight of the towing sector through the Towing Storage Safety and Enforcement Act 2021.
It targets the worst drivers on the road by creating escalating suspensions for repeat offenders as well.
W.H. Williamson & Co. Limited
