Emergency service agencies train for worst-case scenario at Airport

18/11/2009

A major emergency training exercise involving up to 150 role players caught in a simulated explosion at Brisbane Airport today is helping to ensure the effective coordination of local, state, and federal agency resources in the event of a disaster.

The training exercise is an annual event coordinated by Brisbane Airport Corporation Pty Limited (BAC) and involves participation by airlines, Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police Service, Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland Ambulance Service and other similar agencies.

BAC General Manager Operations, Stephen Goodwin said the annual training exercise is the most important emergency preparedness activity in BAC’s comprehensive airport emergency response plan.

“Given the complexity of Brisbane Airport’s operating environment, the ongoing development of positive and effective relationships between BAC and all emergency service agencies is vital to ensuring we are as prepared as possible for a real life incident,” said Mr Goodwin.

“The exercise is also an excellent opportunity for all parties to identify strengths and weaknesses under conditions as close as possible to an actual emergency so we can fine tune our response systems where necessary.”

Today’s emergency training exercise requires the assessment, evacuation, rescue and resolution of a mock situation in which an explosion occurs within the International Terminal public departure area.

Emergency service agencies at the Forward Command Post will implement an emergency response involving the establishment of a triage area and rescue operation before fire trucks extinguish a mock fire, simulated by lights.

The safety of all Brisbane Airport users is BAC’s top priority, which is why BAC conducts emergency scenarios at least once a month when it is only required by law to run one major exercise every two years and one tabletop exercise on other years.

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