Joint emergency response exercises demonstrates Esso’s capabilities in Gippsland

As a prudent operator of critical infrastructure, Esso conducted a joint emergency response exercise on 3 May 2019 at Tyers, Victoria that saw teams deploy oil spill response equipment. The purpose of the exercise was to test our tactical response plans in place in the unlikely event of an incident from our pipelines.

Around 30 people participated in the exercise including representatives from Esso, Victoria Police, CFA, Latrobe City Council, DELWP, ESV and EPA as well as independent observers. It was prepared in conjunction with Latrobe City Council to ensure we minimised any disruption to the public and that activities were carried out safely.
 
Esso Pipelines Supervisor Farrah Tan-Savva said the exercise successfully demonstrated Esso’s ability to coordinate and safely implement response tactics using our own resources alongside those of the local authorities and government agencies. 

Photo — Local authorities and government agencies joined Esso recently for an emergency response exercise at Tyers, Victoria.
“We place great emphasis on being prepared to respond quickly and effectively to mitigate the impacts of any incidents,” Farrah said. “While we manage our business with the goal of preventing incidents, undertaking exercises such as these together with our stakeholders ensures we are continuously improving our joint emergency response capabilities.”

Preceding the Tyers exercise, on 2 May 2019 at Longford Plants, Esso’s Incident Management Team participated in a desktop exercise that simulated the oil spill event.

“It was a great opportunity to work alongside emergency services and to share Esso’s approach to incident management,” Esso’s Longford Plants Manager David Anderson said. “It was beneficial for everyone involved to understand each other’s roles and responsibilities in the event of an emergency.”