ETHYDCO Conducts a Successful Fire Drill

Tue, 20-Aug-2024

Based on the keenness of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to achieve the highest levels of safe operation and continuous development of the occupational Health and safety system and environmental protection in petroleum sector companies, the Egyptian Ethylene and Derivatives Company (ETHYDCO) has conducted a successful second-level fire drill.

The drill witnessed a wide presence and intensive participation from Ethydco leaders headed by Chemist Hesham Riad, CEO of the company, Chemist Hany Tawfik, General Manager of occupational Health and safety, members of the company’s Emergency and Crisis Committee, and a number of managers.

Drill due to hexane leak

The drill initially included a hypothetical scenario with a report from the operations supervisor in the accident area about a second-level fire due to a leak of hexane from a valve under the warehouse in the polyethylene Plant, coinciding with the presence of one of the workers in the area, which led to his injury, which required the intervention of the company’s fire and ambulance team and the convening of the company’s emergency and crisis management committee to follow up on the event and call the central station to complete control of the accident. The speed of response, successful coordination, good preparation and correct immediate handling had a significant impact in controlling the accident in a few minutes.

Chemist Hisham Riad:- Investing in training and practical exercises is important for safety.

Chemist Hesham Riad, the company’s chairman, explained that Ethydco is always keen to conduct such practical drills from time to time to determine the extent of readiness and preparedness to face various emergency situations, stressing the importance of investing in fire safety training to develop this system that establishes a culture of occupational health and safety in a way that ensures the sustainability of production operations and the preservation of lives, assets and property, pointing out that the drill was carried out with high efficiency and that all participants worked as one team capable of facing various crises and accidents.

A series of reports and procedures until the end of the state of emergency

The scenario of the drill that began with the observation of the operating technician, followed by a series of reports and communications, starting with a report from the polyethylene control room, and the head of the operating shift calling the emergency number of the fire brigades, calling the clinic, informing the general manager of the production unit of the accident, operating the evacuation siren, issuing a call to the site to stop work and evacuate the entire site, and issuing instructions to the fire assistants to head to the accident site.

And immediately The evacuation process to the main assembly point next to the polyethylene control building was successful, and coincided with the arrival of an ambulance to deal with the injured person and take him to a safe point to receive treatment.

At the same moment, the firefighting team began dealing with the fire using detection and alarm systems at the accident site, thermal detectors, gas detectors, and audio and visual alarm devices, along with the use of all.

Extinguishing tools using Deluge Valves, mobile foam units and fire hydrants.

After the accident site commander, who is the general manager of the production unit, coordinated with the general manager of occupational Health and safety to evaluate and determine the level of the emergency, it was decided to escalate the emergency level to the second level, so that Chemist Hesham Riad, the company’s chairman, would head the emergency and crisis committee to closely follow up on the event and remove any obstacles. It was decided to call the central station to control the accident, revealing another form of cooperation with sister companies in the geographical area of Alexandria, so that a fire support vehicle and a second from Sidpec would arrive as a reserve. After the successful process of isolating the source of the leak and extinguishing the fire, it was announced that the emergency had ended and the drill had ended successfully, so that the evaluation phase could begin.

Chemist Hani Tawfik thanks the participants.

Chemist Hani Tawfik, General Manager of Occupational Health and Safety at the company, expressed his deep thanks and appreciation for the unlimited support that the management receives from the company’s chairman and his great interest in safety issues. He also paid tribute to all members of the emergency and crisis team and participants in the fire drill for their efforts to raise their level and gain new experiences and their constant readiness to confront emergency situations. He also thanked the cooperation provided by sister companies in the geographical area of Alexandria and Sidpec Company by directing a number of fire Trucks to make the drill a success.

The attendees praised the role played by all the company’s departments in the success of the drill and the role played by the company’s General Security Department.