A comprehensive mock fire drill was conducted at Unit II of the high-pressure boiler plant (HPBP) within the BHEL Trichy complex on Friday. The exercise aimed to evaluate the emergency preparedness of safety, security, and rescue operations at the facility.
Drill Oversight and Participation
The drill was carried out under the supervision of R Rajasekaran, Joint Director of Industrial Safety and Health, Trichy. Observers from several key organizations were present, including Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) Valavanthankottai, Ordnance Factory Trichy (OFT), Airports Authority of India (AAI), Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS), and High Energy Projectile Factory (HEPF), Trichy.
Simulated Emergency Scenario
The scenario involved a simulated emergency in the LPG yard of Unit II, which houses two LPG bullets, each with a capacity of 50 tonnes. The drill tested the response of firefighting teams from BHEL's in-house fire services as well as external teams from IOCL, OFT, AAI, TNFRS, and HEPF, all operating under the Mutual Aid Scheme.
Key Observations and Recommendations
Rajasekaran emphasized that all observations and suggestions made during the mock drill must be carefully considered to further improve safety measures at hazardous installations such as LPG yards. The collaborative efforts of the participating agencies were praised for their effectiveness in handling the simulated emergency.
