Major accident drill brought rescue operations units, parademics and police to Terrafame

On Thursday 1 November 2018, together with paramedics and the police, the Kainuu Rescue Authority organised a major accident drill in Terrafame’s plant site. The drill began with an imagined accident in which a fire, caused by a molten sulphur leak, had been detected at Terrafame’s hydrogen sulphide production line. A personnel evacuation was rehearsed in addition to firefighting.

The main objectives of the Kainuu Rescue Authority were to reinforce their rescue capabilities together with other authorities and Terrafame, and to experiment with the use of the social media in the event of an accident. A total of 13 firefighters from the Kainuu Rescue Authority, 12 paramedics from the Kainuu Social and Health Care Joint Authority, and four police officers participated in the imaginary event. They were supported by Terrafame’s industrial fire brigade and personnel from the metals production plant, the management team and communications. The day’s events were also observed by experts from Kainuu's Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment along with the Rescue Authority.

"The drill came as a surprise to the personnel working their shift in the metals production plant. As soon as they were alerted, they acted fast, in textbook fashion, and started the evacuation procedures," says Antti Arpalahti, Chief Production Officer at Terrafame.

The drill ended in the afternoon, after which there was a brief discussion of the successful aspects and scope for further development. The participants acknowledged that the drill had been necessary. They saw what issues would go well during cooperation with different authorities and the company during an accident of this kind. The exercise also highlighted the various detailed lessons which will help to develop further the each participant’s procedures.

Major accident drills are legislated and are regularly organised in cooperation with Terrafame and the local authorities.

Terrafame Ltd is a Finnish multi-metal company producing nickel, zinc, cobalt and copper at its mine and metals production plant located in Sotkamo, Finland. We are now planning the processing of our main product, nickel-cobalt sulphide, into nickel and cobalt sulphates suitable for electric vehicle batteries. Our aim is to conduct environmentally sustainable, safe and profitable operations. www.terrafame.com