FIRE DRILLS AND TRAINING The importance of fire drills needs no introduction. Higher levels of real training set a good organisation from a mediocre one. High quality drills are therefore a very crucial part of the safety armoury!. Some guidelines are given below. Drills for all Plant personnel, making use of the "on-site Emergency Control Plan" and practicing the specialised techniques required for fighting fires or dispensing vapor clouds, spills etc. should be held minimum once in a month. The drills should cover various types of incidents e.g. major spillage or leak. Extinguishers due for recharging should be discharged during drills and replenished subsequently. The fire water pumps should be run where available- sprinkler system may be activated where available, emergency systems tested, water hoses run out and spray/ jet techniques practiced during the drill. Fire alarms should be sounded (neighboring factories should be warned in advance of this teat). Protective clothing and any other specialised safety equipment available (SCBA) must be tried out during drills to train all concerned in their application. The local fire brigades could be encouraged to participate in fire drills periodically. Any shortcomings, noticed during the drill should be rectified.This may be carried out by nominating neutral umpires, who would continuously note down intervention times, delays, lapses etc.. These would all be prepared in the form of a report.