11. 11. 2024
On Friday, November 8, 2024, an extensive fire drill
took place at the premises of Aplast in Ložnica, with firefighters from the
following units participating: PGD Ložnica, PGD Žalec, PGD Gotovlje, PGD Vrbje,
PGD Šempeter, PGD Griže, and PGD Zabukovica. A total of 87 firefighters and 18
vehicles took part, enabling a realistic and effective simulation of a
challenging emergency. The purpose of the exercise was to assess the
operational readiness of the participating firefighting units, their equipment,
organization, and response to an accident.
The scenario simulated a fire outbreak in the tooling
hall, where filters in the sandblasting area ignited, causing the entire
interior of the station to catch fire. Due to the proximity of stored raw
materials and products, there was a serious risk of the fire spreading to other
warehouses and the nearby production hall. During the employee evacuation,
additional accident scenarios were simulated, including heavy load spills, the dropping
of a tool that trapped an individual, and an injury within the silo, which
further increased the difficulty of the exercise.
Prior to the exercise, a first aid demonstration was
also prepared for the employees, showing the correct use of a defibrillator in
the event of cardiac arrest, equipping them to respond quickly and correctly in
case of an accident.
At the end of the exercise, Branko Potočnik, the
manager of Aplast and Zagožen, thanked all participating firefighters and
organizers for their professionalism and contributions to the increased safety
at our company. He highlighted the importance of such exercises, which remind
us of the value of preparedness and appropriate actions in crisis situations,
and emphasized that collaboration with local fire brigades is key to
strengthening the culture of safety and protecting our employees, property, and
the environment.