Uganda: Contractors Advised by UNBS
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Friday, 07 August 2009 |
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A special seminar was held by UNBS in Kampala as part of World
Metrology Day. UNBS looks after the weights and measures for petorl
stations in Uganda.
Building contractors received advise and assistance on health
and safety issues for sites. “Our investigations have indicated
that most incidents with buildings, especially in Kampala, collapse due
to lack of accurate measurements when mixing construction materials,”
John Okumu, the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) head of the
material testing laboratory, said. He added that because of lack of
supervision, construction workers do not mix the right quantities of
materials, which leads to the collapse of buildings.
“In other fields, measurements are applied to determine the weight and
volume of pre-packaged goods and fuel dispensers at petrol stations to
ensure that consumers are not cheated,” he said. Gaggawala said
the current dynamics of international trade had made metrology more
important because of its role in quality control, calibration,
laboratory accreditation, traceability and certification of products.
“Measurements are at the core of these functions. When carried out
correctly, measurements can improve and guarantee quality in products
and services,” the minister explained, adding that this would directly
influence competitiveness of enterprises, their ability to capture
markets and expand production facilities, which leads to growth and
creation of employment.
With volatile oil prices the role of the UNBS has taken on greater
significance for the service station network and is been developed
further with a view of raising standards in various industries
including petrol retail
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