The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Airport Company conducted its annual full-scale emergency drill as part of its international safety and security certifications requirement.

The drill was held last Wednesday and involved about 75 to 100 individuals in a scenario of a public health threat at one of the ports of entry to test how responders from the various agencies would respond.

According to Sherry Rodgers, corporate and government affairs director at Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd, once the problem was identified, the requisite agencies were contacted to initiate their respective response plans.

During the drill, affected persons were contained to a designated area to prevent potential spread of sickness, appropriate medical care was administered, and decontamination activities were carried out.

She noted that air traffic services remained uninterrupted at GBAC, and customers, employees and tenants were safe at all times.

The emergency drill was the first for the GBAC this year. The three companies within Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd Group are mandated to carry out full-scale emergency drills annually to maintain their international safety and security certifications.

Additionally, smaller scale drills are held throughout the year by each company, along with continuous in depth training involving employees.

The Grand Bahama Airport Company, Freeport Container Port and Freeport Harbour Companies are all certified according to the Occupational Health and Safety Management System 18001 (OHSAS) Standard.

CEO of GBAC, FCP and FHC Godfrey Smith said that it is very important that safety continues to be highlighted in their line of business.

“The companies must always be prepared to respond to emergency conditions in an effective and efficient manner, as there are lives that will depend on the action we take,” he said.

After the drill, a meeting was held consisting of key participants and observers analysing the events of the day, with the aim of developing new strategies if necessary, introducing areas that may have been missed and discussing possible corrective action measure to strengthen weaknesses for similar exercises to be carried out in the future.