This coincides with PASASA’s National Paraffin Safety Winter Campaign for 2011, which is themed: “It’s your space, make it safe." This is a call to all South African citizens to be aware of their household energy safety risks and to take specific action to make their spaces safer.

Each year during winter, thousands of people die and or are injured due to paraffin-related incidents, which in most cases, could have been prevented if the user had knowledge of the safe use and proper storage of the substance.

Outreach elements include a door-to-door campaign and the distribution of safety materials such as pamphlets and booklets. Engen, PASASA and the local municipality officials will engage directly with residents of this small rural community, educating around safety measures and the correct use of paraffin.

“Our annual paraffin safety campaigns focus on reaching out to people who ordinarily would never receive these simple yet lifesaving messages. We need to guide people on the safe use and storage of paraffin and encourage the use of safe appliances,” says Khanyisa Balfour, Engen’s manager for corporate social investment.