VSP reviews off-peak emergency readiness through mock drill

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, conducted a plant-level mock drill on Monday. The drill tested emergency preparedness during off-peak hours. As part of its safety and disaster management programme, the plant regularly conducts such exercises.

The drill took place under the supervision of J. Sivasankara Reddy, Joint Chief Inspector of Factories, State government. During the exercise, he reviewed coordination among departments at the site. In addition, he inspected the availability and proper use of safety equipment. Officials said the main objective was to assess response time and communication. At the same time, the drill tested rescue procedures for industrial gas leak situations.

According to a press release, the mock scenario simulated a coke oven gas leak. The leak was shown to have originated from LP Booster-1 at Gas Boosting Station-2, under the Energy & Environment Department. In the scenario, two personnel inhaled the gas and suffered asphyxiation. As a result, teams launched immediate rescue and medical response.

Once the alarm sounded, emergency teams rushed to the affected location. Meanwhile, teams from Energy & Environment, Gas Safety, Safety wing, Medical Services, Human Resources, and the Water Management Department (WMD) coordinated their roles. Along with them, CISF personnel from fire and security units also participated in the drill.

During the operation, teams deployed both fixed and mobile firefighting equipment. Simultaneously, they activated water curtain systems to contain and disperse the gas, thereby preventing further exposure. Rescue personnel entered the area using Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Additionally, they used other protective gear and rescue tools. Following this, the teams evacuated the two presumed victims safely.

Throughout the drill, medical teams remained on standby. Moreover, officials reviewed on-site first response measures. They also checked protocols for safe shifting and emergency handling.

Steel plant officials said such drills help strengthen safety culture. More importantly, they keep employees and security teams prepared at all hours. In particular, they improve readiness during night shifts and low manpower periods. Officials said they will use the observations from the drill to fine-tune response systems. Going forward, they will also strengthen standard operating procedures across departments.