Berger Paints, Civil Defence conduct joint fire drill

MUSCAT: The safety, health and wellbeing of its employees is an individual as well as corporate responsibility. To ensure there is no compromise on this, Berger Paints has strategies and practices in place. Recently, the company organised a fire drill jointly with Civil Defence (PACDA — Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulances) at its manufacturing facility in Sohar Industrial Area.

“It is imperative to have a positive safety culture that includes training and drills by professionals so employees are aware what steps to take in case of a situation. It is for the employees to understand, engage them and ensure their safety at all times,” stated P K Raj, General Manager of Berger Paints.

From the time of conception, it took almost six months to plan the event as Berger officials coordinated with the authorities at Civil Defence and Sohar Industrial Estate office. The Civil Defence personnel visited the factory and advised the procedure for drill to be followed along with some minor internal changes. On implementation of the changes, a preparatory drill was conducted inhouse in presence of one of the Civil Defence officials. Subsequently the schedule for full-fledged drill was finalised. Prior information was given to the neighbouring companies so as not to panic in case of fire alarms and sirens of fire brigade and ambulance.

On the day of drill, artificial smoke was created in a non-hazardous store and fire alarm was raised. The internal Fire response team immediately sprang into action, inspecting the allocated areas, while rest of the employees moved towards assembly point.