More than 30 tanker drivers will put their emergency response skills to the test at the ASB Baypark in Tauranga.
The exercise will involve scenarios such as a tanker transporting a dangerous chemical colliding with a car, resulting in a fire, serious injuries and chemicals running into nearby waterways.
The training exercise is being managed by Ixom, which is one of New Zealand's largest suppliers that delivers chemical products such as, pulp, paper, food, beverage, dairy and water treatment.
The annual emergency response exercise is designed to prepare for the possibility of a serious on-road incident.
'Every day our 22 strong fleet of bulk liquid tankers delivers a variety of chemicals to our customers nationwide. So it's vital that our tanker drivers are regularly put through their paces to ensure they are fully prepared to respond in the event of an incident such as a road accident,” says Ixom's New Zealand Transport Operations Manager Willy Hogan.
The exercise has been developed to recreate a realistic scenario that will provide all parties with the opportunity to practise their responses and improve their skills.
'Ixom drivers currently receive a considerable amount of training in chemicals handling, spill response and safe driving but testing those abilities in the event of a significant safety incident is difficult. By running an emergency response exercise on a yearly basis, the whole team gets to practise our emergency procedures in a convincing simulation.”
Hogan says Ixom aims to have zero incidents, but if an accident does occur their goal is always to minimise harm to people, property and the environment.
Ixom is collaborating with emergency services, and local and regional councils, to plan and implement the exercise.
The training sessions will take place on Wednesday, July 5, and Thursday, July 6.
3 comments
Mmm...
Posted on 05-07-2017 14:42 | By maildrop
This is interesting and highlights something. In the last few years I don't recall any trucks carrying chemicals spilling their load or coming off the road, yet logging trucks seem to do it every week. Why is that? I'm sure there will be more logging trucks on the road but the "accident" rate does seem disproportionate. My guess is that it is the load that has an influence on driver behaviour.
@Maildrop
Posted on 05-07-2017 20:14 | By Papamoaner
Logging trucks have an elevated centre of gravity and centre of inertia, but the same wheelbase dimension as other trucks, so are more easily rolled. It's because they carry short logs. Prior to around 1970, Logging trucks carried long logs on a jinker, low down, so were more stable, but the tradeoff was an impractical turning radius on bends, especially on logging roads in the bush where it was not unusual to see "polished clay banks" caused by logs rubbing on tight bends. Drivers were always worried about logs breaking free and sliding into the truck cab in an emergency stop, so drove very carefully and tooted on bends. But unlike todays logging trucks, they rarely rolled. I guess the time incentives will be vastly different these days too - possibly a contributing factor.
A lot wiser
Posted on 06-07-2017 11:21 | By Minib
I am pleased you have enlightened maildrop and me too, it's always good to get knowledge from a expert in how things work.
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