Description of Fire Drill

Fire Drill – At first one fire fighter (electrician) who is the responsible for fire alarm switch operation, rang the fire alarm just at 04.00 P.M. After ranging the alarm all workers, staffs and guests run and go out from the factory floor by using nearest Gates and assemble in the safe assembly area toward the factory…

To ensure prompt, competent response to a fire situation, to minimize effects of a fire. The Fire Fighting teams help to other to evacuate easily and safely from the factory also take preparation for further actions as per their responsibilities. They checked into the factory and ensured that nobody has presented or injured inside the factory premises during the fire drill. 

Exercise

Sufficient fire teams designated in writing and teams displayed in area. For offshore sites an emergency exercise is to be carried out at least every 2 weeks.For individual offices and buildings and onshore sites, a muster should be performed at least once per year.

Teams available on all shifts. equate teams to be established to over all shifts, overtime, leave etc.. During (immediately afterwards) emergency exercises reference should be made to the site emergency procedures. Emergency procedures should be updated in the light of experience.

Alarm testing

Emergency alarms are to be regularly tested. A regular time should be chosen so that the personnel know that it is an exercise. A public Announcement should be made beforehand. For offices the test only needs to be performed at the same time as the annual exercise.

Man Overboard Emergency

Fire Drills-minimum twice per year. Fire drills to be conducted every 3 months using fire equipment. Throw a life buoy overboard and keep the person in sight. Alert other personnel and instruct them to inform the Control tower which shall then instigate the “Man Overboard Procedure”. (as displayed in prominent places throughout the vessel).

Fire Hazard Emergency

Continuous ringing of the General alarm and blasting of air horn for a period of at least 10 seconds. All crew members, not being part of the fire fighting team, shall go to their muster stations. Fire fighting shall be carried out in accordance with the companies’ fire fighting procedure.

Abandon Ship Emergency

Evacuation drill. General evacuation to be conducted every six months. More than six short blasts and one long blast on the whistle and continuous ringing of general alarm. Where the situation demands abandoning, the order and method shall only be given by the Barge Superintendent e.g. abandons by helicopter, abandon by life boats or life rafts or abandon by transfer to stand-by vessels.The abandon procedure is displayed in prominent places throughout the vessel.

General

Effectiveness of drills evaluated by site safety manager after each exercise. Emergency Drills are used as a means of training specific personnel and teams to carry out emergency procedures and to give instruction in the use, handling or operation of any emergency equipment which may be appropriate. In doing so, emergency equipment is regularly tested and any shortcomings can be rectified. Also a new or revised procedure can be easily introduced without the need for extensive re-training. Emergency drills at offshore includes the following:

  • Gas leak fighting (H2S or other toxic and flammable gases)
  • Some one in each department other than fire team trained. Fire fighting
  • Search and rescue i.e. within the site area
  • Man over board ( offshore and on sea side)
  • Casualty handling

Other employees (other than fire teams) trained in the use of fire equipment. Emergency Exercises are used to make all personnel aware of the actions required of them in an emergency situation. This usually means going to the appropriate muster point. It is then important to identify if any persons are unaccounted for. As many drills as possible, compatible with the ongoing function of the site, should involve the total complement of  personnel in site, i.e. drills and exercises should be held at the same time. Where this is not possible or desirable, drills should be undertaken by individual departments on an opportunity basis, but within the maximum intervals permitted.

In the event of an emergency, the respective alarm shall sound. You must proceed immediately to your muster station wearing warm clothing and lifejacket. Do not return to your room for your lifejacket if out of the way; enough lifejackets will be available at your muster station. A designated person shall take a roll-call. You must remain at your muster station. A designated person shall take a roll-call. You must remain at your muster station and await further instructions.

To avoid confusion, it will be announced over the public address system “This is a drill” three times when a drill is taking place.

Each drill should introduce a specific type of emergency based upon the types of hazards present on site. Reference should be made to the site emergency procedure.

Training and Drill

The Project Manager and HSE Manager shall ensure that appropriate emergency planning, training and drill is carried out for all project personnel. Basic requirements will be included in the Safety induction training for new employees. Refer to the HSE Training Plan. Workers, Fire wardens and other ERT members, senior and line management within the incident command system will be trained as per the specific function within which they are expected to operate. Project Emergency and Evacuation drill procedures will be distributed to the local workforce prior to every drill exercise. This shall include a diagram or drawing that describes the emergency procedures, alarm levels and Muster Points. In addition, signs will be displayed in the Plant Area and Camp Area showing the location of the reader “you are here” and the location of safety equipment. Emergency Evacuation Drills shall be carried out on a Quarterly basis to verify the level of response. The Emergency Evacuation for a major release of toxic gas (i.e., pipeline rupture) that engulfs the New Plant or camp area in a gas cloud that is potentially and immediately fatal will result in evacuation without mustering and an associated head count. This drill will be initiated immediately after the perimeter detection system is operational at the Plant.

Observation on the Drill

For offshore operational and construction sites/locations, drills to test and train personnel with specific duties (see above) should be performed once every 2 weeks. For onshore operational and construction sites/locations this can be extended to every one month.

  • Did any employee move slowly to come out in duration of the drill?
  • Did all workers evacuate the building?
  • Did office staff evacuate the building?
  • Did all cleaner evacuate the building?
  • Did all sample staff evacuate the building?
  • Did all child of child care center evacuate the center?
  • Did all employees and staffs assemble properly (line wise) in the safe assembly area?
  • All fire alarm switch and fire alarm bells were working properly.
  • All exit doors were opened outward and free from obstacle.
  • All aisles and routes were free form obstacle.
  • All emergency light and exit light were lighting properly.
  • All fire hose reel/pipe were under pressured.
  • All fire extinguishers were placed with under pressured and blocked free.
  • Did the fire fighter respond as per fire fighting procedure?
  • Did all evacuation team act in response as per evacuation procedure?
  • Did the security react as per procedure?
  • Have any worker found caring their belongings (shoe, Tiffin box etc) and going to canteen or toilet?