City conducts safety exercise in Epping, in the event of an emergency

The City of Cape Town says it will conduct a safety exercise in Epping, on Thursday, at Fine Chemicals Corporation (Pty) Ltd, an Aspen Group company, adding that residents shouldn’t be alarmed.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre’s spokesperson, Charlotte Powell said Fine Chemicals Corporation, is a major hazardous installation, and this exercise is to evaluate its capability to execute its emergency response plan and the coordination of emergency services in the event of an emergency.

Powell added that the exercise will take place from 11a.m until 1p.m.

‘’To facilitate the exercise, a realistic scenario will be created involving a fire and explosion during the unloading of acetone from a tanker at the underground bulk solvents storage tanks,’’ said Charlotte Powell, City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre’s spokesperson.

‘’An Off-site Joint Operations Centre (JOC) and a staging area will be set up at Langa railway station, using the DRMC’s HULK vehicle,’’ she added.

Powell said the exercise is being done in collaboration with various other agencies, including the City's Fire & Rescue Service, the South African Police Service, Emergency Medical Services, Pathology Services, the City’s Law Enforcement agencies, EPIC, Environmental Health and Water & Sanitation.

‘’Members of the public are advised that emergency vehicles will respond to the scene; however, they need not be concerned, as this deployment forms part of the exercise.’’

‘’Preparedness exercises like this are an important part of ensuring that the City is able to deal with disaster situations, in line with its commitment to creating a safe city,’’ added Charlotte Powell, City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre’s spokesperson.

 

Done By: Esobusi Mkangelwa