On May 23, a plant-wide emergency drill was held at the South Ukraine NPP. According to legend, a simulated accident occurred as a result of a missile attack on critical infrastructure facilities in the NPP controlled access area: grid overload, low-frequency oscillations, disruptions in power system operation, and a blackout of Unit 2. Unfortunately, the scenario may be realistic – during a full-scale war, nuclear employees must prepare for any sequence of events.
All emergency response protocols were implemented at the site: emergency groups and teams were assembled, Onsite Emergency Response Centre and the Emergency Operations Head Headquarters were activated, and the emergency plan was put into effect. Two shifts of emergency groups and teams were trained – under the leadership of the Plant Director General Vyacheslav Stoyanov and SUNPP Deputy Chief Engineer for operations Oleksandr Rudyi.
“Conditionally, according to drill,” the branch blackout occurred with the loss of working and backup power for house load. The main introductory ones also included the simulated fire isolation in the diesel generator room, the need to provide first aid to the victim as a result of fire extinguishing, and the partial evacuation of the personnel of one of the departments. The accident was conditionally classified as a utility accident, that is, the consequences of which spread beyond the enterprise.
The operational personnel practiced their skills in detecting and classifying the accident. In addition, there was a brainstorming in Onsite Emergency Response Centre. Information about the equipment operation, the radiation state, and the activities of emergency groups and teams was received there. Members of the Emergency Operations Head Headquarters analyzed the events and made decisions on further actions to eliminate the simulated emergency.
“The situation at the industrial site is stabilized; additional countermeasures to protect the population are not currently needed. The radioactive cloud has been isolated; the territory has been fenced off. Therefore, we can proceed to decontamination, dust suppression and removal of the contaminated soil layer. All information will be promptly recorded and transferred to the relevant services,” reported Oleksandr Permiakov, Deputy Head of SUNPP Radiation Safety Department.
Firefighters from the 1st State Fire Rescue Unit joined the rectification of consequences of the fire, which “conditionally occurred according to drill” on the engine in the premises of the diesel generator station as a consequence of a leak in the high-pressure fuel line.
“At 10:30 we received a notification about the fire. Three departments of the 27th State Fire Rescue Unit and one department of the 28th Unit were working. They extinguished a conditional spill of diesel fuel. The task was completed in the shortest possible time,” said Rostyslav Shchedrov, Deputy Head of the 27th State Fire Rescue Unit (SFRU).
According to legend, one of the rescuers was injured during the liquidation of the consequences of an emergency, so there was a need to provide assistance. The emergency medical team consisting of doctors and paramedics quickly assessed the general situation, diagnosed the condition of the victim, fixed the affected limbs and connected medical systems for the administration of medications. After that, the conditionally injured firefighter was admitted to the town hospital.
“All necessary assistance to the victim was provided within 10 minutes – this is the minimum permissible time in the presence of such injuries. The coordinated and quick work of the team of doctors and paramedics made it possible to safely transport the conditionally injured person to a medical facility,” Halyna Khmilevska, SUNPP Health Department Head emphasized.
Within the framework of the “Evacuation plan for the employees and material assets of the branch “SS SUNPP” in the event of a threat or emergency,” the evacuation of personnel not involved in emergency activities was carried out. The process was practiced based on SUNPP Industrial and Technology Products Management Department. Despite the fact that everything happened “conditionally according to drill”, the scenario was tried to be practiced as realistically as possible. Dust suppression was carried out along the evacuation route for employees, and all evacuees were provided with respiratory protection equipment.
Representatives of SS “Emergency Technical Center” (ETC) of JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom” joined the drill. They arranged a demonstration of special equipment and tools for eliminating emergencies. The ETC employees demonstrated and told how they could assist each Ukrainian NPP in the event of an accident.
On the completion of the plant-wide drill, all involved emergency teams and brigades gathered to briefly report on the results of the work. “The exercise scenario this time provided for damage to the equipment of our facility as a result of an enemy missile attack,” said PANPP General Director Vyacheslav Stoyanov. “This is extremely relevant, because almost every day enemy drones or missiles fly over our plant. We must be ready for any development of events. What I saw today is that everyone worked in a coordinated and responsible manner. Such drills are important, and in modern conditions, these are critically necessary. We plan to conduct similar drills even more often. Based on the results, areas for improvement will be formed, to make our work even safer.”
The preliminary results of the plant-wide emergency drill were summarized in the Offsite Emergency Response Centre, and were discussed in more detail at the meeting of the members of the Emergency Operations Head Headquarters on Monday. The main comments were analyzed, and areas for improvement were outlined. The overall assessment of the actions of the emergency groups and brigades is “satisfactory.”
The next similar exercise at the South Ukraine NPP is scheduled for September-October of this year. As the participants themselves emphasize, such simulated drills form real readiness and increase safety – both of the nuclear power plant and the community around it.
