Kumba conducts emergency response drill at Sishen Airfield
South African iron-ore miner Kumba Iron Ore and other key stakeholders recently conducted a mass casualty emergency drill at the privately operated Sishen Airfield near Kathu, in the Northern Cape, to test the effectiveness and coordination of emergency response services in the region following a simulated aircraft explosion scenario.
Stakeholders involved in executing this emergency drill included South African domestic and regional airline Airlink, the South African Police Services (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the Department of Health (Forensic Pathology), the Gamagara Fire Department and Disaster Management teams, mining company Assmang’s Khumani mine, local hospitals and private emergency medical service providers.
As a facility that provides a service to the public, Kumba highlights that it is critical to ensure the safety of airline passengers is not compromised, and the mass casualty emergency drill performed at the airport simulated a plane explosion with multiple injuries and fatalities.
The company therefore activated many resources for this simulation, including doctors, paramedics, defence force personnel, an air rescue helicopter and ambulances to identify potential gaps, improve protocols and formulate strategies should such an event take place.
The airfield, a South African Civil Aviation Authority-licensed facility, has safely serviced about 170 flights and 3 700 passengers to date.
“The Sishen airport is a strategic asset for both Kumba Iron Ore and the region. It unlocks a lot of economic value for local businesses and the communities in the area,” says Kumba fire prevention section manager Tshepiso Mosoma.
The Sishen Airfield continues to support the logistical requirements of the Sishen mine, facilitating the movement of personnel, management, contractors and scheduled aviation services between Johannesburg and the Northern Cape mining hub.
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