OM Materials carries out emergency drill at smelting plant
BINTULU: OM Materials (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd recently carried out an emergency drill exercise at its smelting plant at Samalaju Industrial Park here.
The company in a statement said the exercise, which involved staged mass casualties and hazmat evacuation, was a joint effort between OM Sarawak, Bintulu Hospital and the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba).
According to the company’s Health and Safety Department, the setup of the emergency drill involved spillage of hazardous chemical substances in a laboratory, causing toxic fume contamination in the building and gas intoxication.
Twenty-eight personnel from OM Sarawak, 36 from Bintulu Hospital and 23 from Bomba were involved in the drill.
Representatives from Bintulu Health Department, Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), and police were also present and acted as evaluators.
The objective of the drill was to gauge the level of preparedness and give employees an opportunity to practise emergency procedures in a simulated but safe environment.
It also aimed to reinforce the cooperation between OM Sarawak and the relevant agencies in managing emergency situations together at the plant.
Meanwhile, Bintulu Hospital Emergency physician Dr Loi Siew Ling said the drill was extremely successful and more companies should do so in order to prepare their staff in case of potential accidents in the future.