It only took one real-life 911 call for Conserv FS to create a partnership with their local fire department in Wauconda, Illinois. During that emergency, we started talking with the Deputy Chief of the Wauconda Fire Department about safety-related things at our location. Before they left, we offered to hold a safety training session for the firemen and EMTs regarding liquid fuel, LP trucks, and anhydrous ammonia at our facility in Wauconda.
To fulfill our promise, we held three consecutive trainings, to ensure all firemen from different shifts could attend. Our team worked together to organize the training which included Petroleum Salesman, Kevin Bays who provided a tour of his fuel truck, Area Energy Sales and Operations Manager, Jeff Garvey who talked about the safe handling of liquid petroleum, Commercial Energy & Bulk Oil Manager, Chuck Anderson who discussed handling lubricants, and Manager Trainee, Debbie Artus who took the fireman on a walking tour see the layout of the facility.
Kevin and Jeff demonstrated additional safety features such as:
- Shutting down trucks and the belly valves.
- Safety protocols on liquid propane including checking the delivery hose and the remote shutoff valves.
- In-house training for the ‘I smell gas’ phone call which is required for all employees.
- 30,000-gallon bulk lube plant with an emphasis on diking and how the fusible links work on the valves.
- Ensured the tour covered the warehouse and heated storage for chemicals.
- Talked in-depth about the dangers of anhydrous ammonia.
- Ensured the firemen knew what to do in case of a fire such as not applying water to a chemical fire.
Fresh fruit, coffee cake, donuts, juice, and coffee were also served to demonstrate hospitality toward the fire department because we know people learn and retain information better when they are not hungry. It also seems to encourage attendance.
All three groups asked great questions and said they learned a lot. A few even commented that before the tour, they had no idea what was under the Conserv FS roof or what we did as an organization. We’re calling the training a huge success and look forward to growing our new partnership with the Wauconda Fire Department.
Waconda firemen attend one of the safety trainings
Training for handling liquid propane and working with the bobtail trucks was a highlight