August 18th, 2024Trentham hosts multiagency chemical hazard training exercise

The CFA led a major multiagency training exercise in Trentham over last weekend, tasking emergency services crews with containing a hazardous material spill in a busy workplace.

More than 75 first responders from CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), Victoria Police (VicPol), and Ambulance Victoria (AV) participated in the four-hour drill at the Arxada facility, which was supported by the Department of Health, Hepburn Shire, and WorkSafe.

CFA District 15 Commander Adam Baker emphasised the importance of rehearsing multiagency emergency response scenarios.

“The objective of the exercise was to test and improve the way emergency services work together when responding to large-scale emergencies,” Adam said.

“It takes a coordinated effort from all our partner agencies to contain and combat an incident on site, so this training was an excellent opportunity for our senior leaders to engage with other agencies.”

When the exercise got underway, participants were briefed on the scenario to ensure their response was as realistic as possible.

Crews were then tasked with managing the hypothetical chemical spill, adapting to any unexpected circumstances, and establishing a course of action should the spill or vapour breach the site boundary.

“Emergency responders needed to be familiar with site-specific risks and ensure they’re prepared to respond to any issues at the site. That’s why we conduct these exercises almost annually at major sites,” Adam said.

As the lead agency for the exercise, CFA bore an increased level of responsibility, orchestrating the collaborative efforts of all participating emergency services.

Adam highlighted the critical role the lead agency plays when responding to emergencies. 

“As the control agency, we have the responsibility to bring the incident to a safe conclusion and then work to restore normality for the local community,” he said.

Adam added that Arxada was chosen for the exercise because it is the only site in that area, and one of 40 statewide, classified as a major hazard facility.

“The purpose of the training was to test Arxada’s emergency procedures and the emergency services’ response procedures to any incident there,” he said.

“I was really pleased with how the exercise went. Hopefully, we never have to put these skills into action, but at least all agencies and Arxada are well prepared.”

Words & Image: Supplied, CFA