JOIFF training expands into the USA, South Africa and Russia
Published: 01 January, 2008
In September 2007, following an inspection audit, JOIFF accreditation was approved for the Brayton Fire Training Field of Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). TEEX is a member of the Texas A&M University System and offers a wide range of technical and skills training programs aimed at helping people to provide safe communities through training, technical assistance, and emergency response. Their Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station, Texas, is recognised as the largest fuelled live-fire training facility and the most comprehensive emergency response training complex in the world. More detains are available in the September issue of The Catalyst, available at www.joiff.com
In November 2007 following an inspection audit, the Sasol Secunda Shared Services Emergency Management Training Academy (EMTA), South Africa was awarded a JOIFF certificate of accreditation. Since the early 1980s, the EMTA has developed from modest beginnings to become one of the most advanced industrial training centres in Africa. The primary objective of the EMTA is to develop and maintain the competence of Emergency Management and onsite personnel in Secunda. As Sasol is a global company with branches throughout South Africa, the EMTA also trains Sasol personnel from their other sites. The EMTA also provides training to the municipal fire departments throughout the Mpumalanga province in which Sasol Secunda is located.
The EMTA is accredited by the South African Emergency Services Institute (SAESI) / International Fire Services Accreditation Council (IFSAC) to present a range of courses. The EMTA and JOIFF have begun to investigate with SAESI, the possibility of aligning some of the JOIFF courses and programmes with the South African Qualifications Authority Standards.
A very constructive meeting was held recently between representatives of JOIFF and Mr. Dmitry Choudnovsky, Head of Astrakhan Well Control & Response Unit, Gazobezopasnost LLC, accompanied by Mr. Vitaly Baranov, Senior Instructor at the Unit with a view to JOIFF accredited Training taking place in their Training Centre located near Caspian Sea in the city of Astrakhan, Russia. Gazobezopasnost LLC is an incorporated JSC Gazprom division and is Russia’s largest well control and blowout elimination service provider and has also become the leading training organisation in Russia for on-shore and off-shore personnel.
Gazobezopasnost provides complex Blowout Prevention and H2S Safety solutions for drilling, workover and production facilities of gas industry Operators and is the industry’s leader in providing HSE, Industrial Safety and Fire Safety services for production and processing companies. Gazobezopasnost has 35-years’ experience of gas kick and blowout elimination (including burning H2S blowouts) on-shore and off-shore, on the territory of the USSR, Afghanistan, Poland and to date has eliminated are over 120 blowouts on-shore and off-shore.
JOIFF annual general meeting.
The 2007 JOIFF Annual General Meeting took place in November 2007 in Durban, South Africa, hosted by the South African Petrochemical Fire Chiefs Committee (SAPFCC).
At the AGM, it was agreed that JOIFF will award Scholarships following submission of a proposal to a judging Committee to be established and chaired by the JOIFF Treasurer. Applications will be invited from persons all over the World who in their submission, will propose the subject matter of their scholarship. Prior to awarding any scholarship there will be an agreement between the recipients of the scholarship and JOIFF that the work will belong to JOIFF. Detail will be advertised in 2008 and first payment will be in year commencing Jan 2009.
The AGM elected a new Chairman for JOIFF, Rick Lanigan. Rick started his career in the Municipal Fire Service in Scotland in 1975 and gained a wealth of experience covering the petrochemical complexes in the Region. He transferred to Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service where the Brigade covered the Shipbuilding Industry at Barrow employing more than 16,000 persons primarily building submarines. On promotion to Divisional Commander he moved to West Cumbria where the main risks were Sellafield Nuclear reprocessing Complex with a workforce of 15,000, a number of chemical complexes and the dock areas of Workington and Whitehaven. When he retired from Cumbria Fire Service in January 2002 he took up his present role of Chief Fire Officer for British Nuclear Fuels Limited now Sellafield Sites Limited. JOIFF looks forward to further dynamic growth and development under Rick’s leadership.
Throughout the two days, as well as the business of the AGM, a number of technical papers were presented and delegates visited various petrochemical facilities.
JOIFF invites membership
Membership of JOIFF is open to any Organisation with nominated personnel as occupational firefighters/emergency responders/hazard management team members who provide cover to industrial/commercial organisations. Organisations who do not fully comply with these requirements are welcome to apply for Corporate Membership of JOIFF.
Membership of JOIFF offers a forum for discussion and shared learning through its email network to work to ensure that members benefit from the misfortunes of some to educate against the same mistakes not being repeated.
