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The first training center for extinguishing fires from petroleum products opened in OKTA
Skopje, 22/05/2024 – Following its strategic determination for ethical and socially responsible work and at the same time setting safety as a top priority, OKTA invested in a new Training Center for fire protection from petroleum products, the first of its kind in the country.
The new training center will enable the execution of exercises and scenarios of the fire fighting unit of OKTA, in strictly controlled and safe conditions for the employees and the infrastructure of the company.
„The opening of this training center once again emphasizes our firm and determination to invest in capacities and initiatives that should ensure a sustainable future for OKTA but also guarantee safety, which is our top priority. The training center is extremely important for our company and will contribute to the further maintenance of the high level of preparedness of our firefighting team, as well as of all employees of the company, to effectively deal with risky situations related to the occurrence of fires. At the same time, we are ready to put our knowledge and all the facilities of this center at the service of the institutions, other companies and the community, thus once again confirming our social responsibility to which we are particularly dedicated and proud“ - said Ice Rikaloski – Director of Directorate Operation in OKTA.
At the presentation of the new training center, a demonstration exercise was performed by the OKTA firefighting unit, which was followed by representatives of Crisis Management Center and а few fire brigades from the country.
This training center with a total area of 1,000 square meters is located within OKTA premises, isolated from the tank park and the routes of movement of tankers with derivatives. This allows reliable and safe use, training and working with an open flame without any risks for the rest of the installation. The close proximity of the Fire Fighting service of the company allows flawless support for the users of the training center. The infrastructure of this center, which includes an underground hydrant line with additional 4 above-ground hydrants installed to ensure sufficient quantities of water in case of emergency, a derivative supply for performing the exercises according to pre-determined simulations performed according to the strictest API standards and elements for simulation and professional practical training, provide safe and strictly controlled conditions for training and improvement.
In the beginning, the Center will function as a training ground for fire extinguishing techniques caused by petroleum products and will be used for training OKTA employees, as well as for joint exercises with the firefighting units with which the company has concluded memorandums of cooperation. In the next phase, it is planned to expand the training center with training equipment and training for dealing with other types of fires such as: enclosed spaces fires, Class A fires and search and rescue techniques in enclosed spaces. At the same time, this first training center will become available to state institutions, local governments and other companies, for exercises and training of their firefighting units.
OKTA's firefighting unit was established at the very beginning of the company's operations and has two fully equipped firefighting vehicles, as well as other additional firefighting equipment. The unit is in a process of purchasing a new FF vehicle - 4x4 Pickup truck, fully equipped with water and foam tanks, high pressure pump, hoses and different nozzles for tackling various kinds of fires and scenarios. The unit counts 23 highly trained professionals especially in the area of fire and explosion protection in oil industries, as well as for extinguishing fires in urban areas. So far, the unit has operated a large number of successful interventions outside OKTA premises, especially in the community in which it works.
