Fire drill for safety awareness
The Star Online, 11 January 2014
A team of emergency response team rescuing a factory worker during an emergency drill at the Cemerlang industrial area in Ulu Tiram, Johor.
JOHOR BARU: Upon spotting a small fire within the premises of a factory here, a panic-stricken worker immediately alerted its emergency response team to assist in putting out the fire.
The team arrived the scene within minutes and attempted to put out the flames but had to call for backup, as they were unable to contain the fire that occurred around 11.10am at the Cemerlang industrial area in Ulu Tiram here on Nov 9.
A few minutes later, the Fire and Rescue department and police came to the aid and got the situation under control while two workers who were injured in the process was sent to a nearby hospital.
This was the scenario during an emergency evacuation drill involving over 130 staff at the Mega Kabel factory premises here.
Alliance Safety Management executive director Netty E Komattu, who is the safety and health consultant for the factory, said that workers in the building were evacuated within four minutes.
“A team of 30 including fire-fighters, first-aid members, floor marshalls, assembly marshalls, and a commander-in-charge worked together to swiftly and efficiently evacuate the building,” he said when contacted.
Netty also said that companies with more than 40 employees are fully responsible to ensure the safety and health of their workers as stated under Section 514 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
“In emergency situations, workers are trained to walk fast and head towards the nearest designated assembly point.
“Companies should conduct such drills at least twice a year for workers to familiarise themselves with the emergency escape route,” he said.
The drill was organised by the factory’s human resource manager (safety chairman) Yao Weng Seng with the support of its managing director Datuk Seri Michael Yong.
