At 9:00 a.m. on March 26, 2024, Huaxi Special Steel organized a special drill for production safety accidents in confined spaces, which was an important emergency drill.

The purpose of this drill is to test the applicability of the special emergency plan for confined space production safety accidents, assess the quick response capability of the emergency command system in the event of an accident, and evaluate the proficiency in using relevant rescue equipment. Additionally, it aims to discuss how to identify and confirm the origin of the accident and clarify the procedures for issuing orders and reporting, thereby laying a foundation for future emergency responses to production safety accidents. The drill is intended to enhance the emergency response capabilities of personnel, raise awareness among employees about the prevention of poisoning and asphyxiation during confined space operations, familiarize them with point inspection and operational knowledge related to confined spaces, and equip them with the knowledge and skills for escape and self-rescue. It also seeks to effectively prevent various poisoning accidents caused by toxic and hazardous gases (such as gas, nitrogen, and ammonia) and to ensure that employees grasp basic knowledge of poisoning prevention and self-rescue. This will strengthen the three abilities of employees to prevent harmful gases. The “three capabilities” refer to:

(1) The ability to inspect and eliminate hidden dangers of poisoning and suffocation caused by harmful gases, and standardize their working behaviors.

(2) The rapid emergency response capability.

(3) The capability of employees for emergency rescue, escape, and self-rescue.

During the drill, a confined space operation accident scenario was simulated: at the east side of the denitrification ammonia tank’s sump in the sintering plant, maintenance personnel were repairing the internal sewage pump but failed to strictly follow the principle of ventilating first, then testing, and finally performing the work. This resulted in one maintenance worker being poisoned. In response to this emergency, the site immediately activated the on-site response plan and reported the accident. The company, based on the accident situation, initiated a Level 2 emergency response. The coal prevention station quickly took action to rescue the poisoned worker while contacting the 120 emergency center. Meanwhile, the Security Department promptly organized personnel to cordon off and evacuate the surrounding area, and the Equipment Department organized personnel to carry out repair operations at the leakage point under the supervision of coal prevention officers.

The drill involved multiple departments and personnel, including the company’s legal representative, various vice general managers, the Safety Department, the Production Management Department, the Equipment Department, and the Security Department. Each member had distinct responsibilities and tasks within the emergency organizational system, collaborating to ensure the smooth execution of the drill.

Through this exercise and the on-site observation by relevant personnel, Huaxi Special Steel’s employees became more familiar with the procedures and methods for handling confined space operation accidents. This drill also enhanced their ability and proficiency in responding to emergencies. At the same time, the issues and shortcomings identified during the drill provided valuable insights and references for future safety production work.

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