Integrated fire and rescue training program
New Covert Generating Facility
Owned by New Covert Generating Company LLC, Operated by NAES Corp
1100-MW, gas-fired, three G-class 1 × 1 combined cycles located in Covert, Mich
Plant manager: Rich Evans
Key project participants: The entire New Covert team, Covert Township Fire Department
Challenge.
Powerplants across the country are challenged to use cost-effective solutions to address potential real-time fire and rescue emergencies. The template outlined in this best practice illustrates the practical approach used by our plant to get predictable results if/when the unexpected fire and/or rescue condition occurs.
Solution.
The plant’s fire and rescue training plan is based on the assumption that there is a reasonable probability that an actual fire or rescue emergency will occur. In preparation for such an emergency, the Covert team has learned that it is extremely important to collaborate with all stakeholders including asset owners, training vendors, and community local fire and rescue teams to jointly develop the best executable plan for the most probable emergency situations.
The Covert team uses the continuous-process-improvement approach structured on the APIE model (Fig 59):
- Assess: decide what needs to be done.
- Plan: jointly develop a plan with stakeholders.
- Implement: drill to validate plan.
- Evaluate: integrate lessons-learned.
Results.
Confined-space and rescue training is provided onsite annually to both employees and local fire and rescue organizations as part of the annual safety training program requirement.The confined-space and rescue portion includes one segment specifically for the local fire and rescue organizations (Fig 60). The plant hosts the training onsite which includes rescue drills (Figs 61-63). The onsite training allows potential emergency responders to learn the geography of the plant and to help visualize and practice the most probable rescue scenarios. The onsite training also allows local rescuers a chance to get to know the people in the plant (Fig 64).The rescue training coupled with an emergency fire drill combine for a comprehensive fire and rescue plan. The drill is critiqued by all stakeholders and lessons learned are incorporated into the next training and drill exercises (Fig 65).
