Training seminars were held at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGS) site for the employees of the Republic of Turkey Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the fire department and forestry directorate. Representatives of operational services received intensive training for a month. The employees learned about the organizational structure of the fire safety unit of the complexes that ensure uninterrupted operation of the nuclear power plant under construction and the fire unit, as well as how the national legislation in the field of fire safety at nuclear power plants works. The employees also studied the features of the technical means of the control system.
More than 100 representatives from the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorates of Mersin, Adana, Antalya, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Konya, Kilis, Niğde, Osmaniye, Karaman and Hatay provinces as well as the fire and forestry directorates of AFAD attended the seminars. Visits were organized to the Akkuyu NPP site for those who attended the seminars. Participants examined the facilities of the ongoing nuclear power plant, the residential areas of the builders and the fire protection facilities.
During the seminars, general information about the nuclear energy industry, the radiation protection programs at Akkuyu NPP and NPPs was particularly mentioned. At the end of each seminar, a simulated fire extinguishing exercise was conducted. Thanks to the strong coordination between Mersin Forestry Directorate and fire departments and Akkuyu Nuclear Fire Brigade, coordination of joint actions in the fields of extinguishing the fire with simulation, uninterrupted water supply and organizing interaction has become easier. Firefighters also experienced the procedure of getting information about the fire and sending additional units from the fire brigade units working in the Büyükeceli neighborhood, which is the closest settlement to the Akkuyu NPP site.
Mersin Fire Department Response and Coordination Branch Manager Ali Temiz said the following in his statement on the subject: “It is very important for the fire brigades to act together and share their experiences and the principles of organizing their work. This approach enables us to act professionally and maintain a high level of security in the area. We hope to continue our cooperation with our colleagues in the Akkuyu NPP field.”
Ali Ercan Gökgül, Osmaniye Provincial Regional Director of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), said, “With the Akkuyu NPP, fire safety measures are being increased in our province. Now we know how work is organized to ensure fire safety at the nuclear power plant construction site. We discussed this issue with colleagues from other emergency services in the region. I am confident that it will be beneficial for all participants of the training to receive additional information on the principles and procedures for the implementation of radiation protection measures.”
Hasan Say, Deputy Head of Training Center of Kayseri Provincial Directorate of Disaster and Emergency, said: “We spent three days examining the operation of fire extinguishing systems at the Akkuyu NPP site, which is under construction. We learned the work and structure of the fire brigades, and observed their coordinated work during the exercises. We got new information. We are happy with the training, the lessons, the help of the instructors and their eagerness to answer all questions. I think it would be beneficial for us to organize such seminars on a regular basis.”
Adana Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate Search and Rescue Technician Bülent Güleç also made the following assessments regarding the seminars: “During the three-day training at the Akkuyu NPP site, we witnessed the work of our friends working in the NPP fire department. We toured the site and met the fire department and learned about their training and work. We worked on simulations of various events. The training has been very productive. I would like to thank our trainers and colleagues at Akkuyu NPP.”
Roman Melnikov, Director of Akkuyu Nuclear Fire Safety Division, also said about the success of the seminars: “Safety culture is a top priority in absolutely every aspect of the work of Akkuyu NPP experts. Fire safety is also decisive and essential for our experts. Firefighters are on duty around the clock and their experience has been beneficial for our colleagues from other fire departments and forestry directorates in the Republic of Turkey. We were particularly pleased with the positive feedback following the results of the seminars. The extinguishing of forest fires in Mersin last year proved the qualifications and high level of coordination of our experts. We are ready to share our experiences.”
Be the first to comment