Automobile Power Products sees safety on roads as first priority

Automobile Power Products, formerly Jialing, located at the corner of Charlotte and Oronoque Streets in Georgetown, has been selling motorcycles in Guyana since 1994; this along with that key accessory, the safety helmet. Approximately two decades ago, the company began selling only helmets for pedal cyclists, motorcyclists or pillion riders in need of safety gear.
These helmets serve an important purpose of protecting riders from serious head injuries or deaths caused by accidents.
Safety helmets are among the seventeen (17) categories of products monitored by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to guarantee compliance with labelling and quality, and over the years, this company, which has continually registered with the GNBS as an importer of safety helmets, has subjected numerous consignments of these protective gear to inspections by the GNBS at the time of importation.
General Manager of the company, Anand Kalladeen, noting that more road users need to be safety-conscious, especially considering the frequency with which road accidents occur, has said,
“We’re of the opinion that safety is number one in the country. We should promote safety, but sometimes you are on the road and you see many young riders being reckless. A helmet can save them from head injuries.”

Automobile Power Products sells three types of safety helmets. All certified, these are the WLT 307 or DOT helmets, which are referred to as the ‘German caps’; the WLT 128, which provides a full-face cover; and the WLT 202, which provides partial face coverage.
The National Standard used by the GNBS to monitor this product is the GYS 9 – 17:2004; Labelling of commodities – Part 17 Labelling of protective helmets for road users. This
document specifies labelling requirements for safety helmets used by pedal cyclists and motorcyclists. Utilising the requirements of the standard, the Product Compliance Department of the GNBS checks the helmets for the name of the manufacturer, country of origin, date manufactured, model number, size, mass of helmet, user instructions, and certification mark – which is
a key labelling requirement, since it indicates that the product was tested by a third party and deemed safe for its intended purpose.
“All of our helmets are DOT certified. It’s not just bringing a helmet, but ensuring that the helmets are of quality. (For) every shipment that comes into the country, we have to provide the certificate to the Bureau before we get clearance,” the GM has disclosed.
According to the National Standard, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure that a helmet meets the designed requirements of the sport or activity for which it has been labelled as suitable.
Further, each helmet must be accompanied by a brochure or swing-tag that including information regarding the correct fit; correct method of adjustment, or the retaining strap; cleaning methods; and the list of sizes available in the model.
The recommendations to users on the hazards associated with making adjustments to the helmet, and recommendations for replacement of damaged helmets have also to be included.
Emphasising that the process used in annually registering with the GNBS is simple, Kalladeen has said,
“It’s very easy. Once you get your documentation, everything is easy and smooth sailing. Of course, if you don’t have your documents, it’s another story, but everything is above board with us.”
Kalladeen is urging importers and retailers of safety helmets to get registered with the GNBS, and is urging road users to acquire and wear their safety helmets. Lauding the GNBS for the work it has been doing over the years, he declared,
“If we do not have a standard organisation that ensures quality products are coming in, everyone will go abroad and bring whatever they want without any certification, and you do not know what could happen. That is what happens with some other products.”
With a total of thirty staff, Automobile Power Products now also provides parts, servicing, warranties, and other after-sales services to ensure customer satisfaction. The company is among five dealers of safety helmets registered with the GNBS.