The readiness of emergency services is crucial in ensuring the safety of communities is not greatly compromised in an emergency situation. Response times, tactical organisation and open communication channels are all key in being able to deal with a variety of risks and situations that may cause harm to people.
In order to test the emergency preparedness of local emergency services, Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine organised a Disaster Emergency Drill – whereby an uncommon emergency scenario, that may result in a disaster and mass casualties is conducted.
Partners including the SAPS, Gamagara Local Municipality Fire Brigade and Disaster Management teams, The Traffic Department, REISA, Kathu Solar Power Plant, AECI and BME, all participated in constructing a simulation of a light-duty vehicle colliding with a Bulk Explosives Truck near the main entrance of the mine.
Tshepiso Mosoma – Section Manager: Fire Prevention and Emergency Response Services at Sishen Minehighlights the importance of such exercises. “Not only are these types of drills critical in ensuring we have adequate emergency systems in place, they also create awareness regarding the types of site induced emergencies that may impact our communities.
The mine is required to comply with its Emergency and Evacuation Drills Procedure, which requires the mine to conduct this type of emergency drill annually. This is also in line with our Anglo American Social Way policy which requires our mine to comply with the policy’s Emergency Preparedness and Response requirements”.
Some of the positive insights gained from conducting the Disaster Emergency Drill were:
- It took only 14 minutes for all Emergency Response stakeholders to arrive on scene.
- It took only 11 minutes to extricate both entrapped “patients” from the LDV.
- It took only 1 minute to evacuate the emergency responders from the scene as soon as the explosives truck cargo “caught fire”.
- And access routes towards the scene, were all well managed by traffic officials and Sishen Mine Protection Services teams.
Through the simulation conducted, new controls and measures are being investigated as a way to mitigate potential disasters that could cause harm to the wellbeing of communities.
