30 EN: Heroes behind the scenes—emergency services at voestalpine

00:00:02:

00:00:03: Welcome to my podcast.

00:00:05: A first Alpina medium for all employees, as well as fans and everybody who wants to become part of First Alpina in the future.

00:00:13: This episode was translated from the German interview with AI.

00:00:21: Welcome to episode thirty of my podcast.

00:00:24: For once, this episode is not about the production of high-quality steel products or the use of innovative technologies.

00:00:31: Today, we are talking about security.

00:00:34: Specifically, we're talking about the people who work behind the scenes but are there in a flash when an emergency arises, the emergency services.

00:00:42: The Plant Fire Brigade and Plant Security ensure that everything runs smoothly at Fused Alpina's plant premises around the clock.

00:00:50: Today, I'm talking to representatives of these organizations and taking them behind the scenes.

00:00:56: I'm talking to Greg O'Reisner, head of the Donovitz Plant Fire Brigade, and I now welcome Michael Lininger, head of the Linn's Plant Fire Brigade, and Will Helm Schmollmüller, head of plant security, to the podcast microphone.

00:01:10: Welcome.

00:01:10: Hello.

00:01:11: Thank you for the invitation.

00:01:12: Hello.

00:01:12: Thank you very much for the invitation.

00:01:15: With pleasure.

00:01:16: First, a brief explanation for you, dear listeners.

00:01:19: Emergency services are those units that respond immediately in an emergency.

00:01:23: These include plant security, the company fire brigade, and medical services.

00:01:28: At the Linn site, they work closely together, coordinated by a central control center that bundles all alarms and manages operations.

00:01:36: Whether it's a fire, a medical emergency, or a security incident, everything here really works like clockwork.

00:01:44: Mr.

00:01:44: Schmollmüller, you are the head of plant security at the first Alpina site in Linz.

00:01:49: And I'll start with you.

00:01:51: What does security mean to you?

00:01:52: And to make it a little more difficult, I'd like you to answer in three words.

00:01:57: That is responsibility, prevention and also service.

00:02:01: And then, of course, I ask Mr.

00:02:03: Leninga, as head of the company Fire Brigade, the same question.

00:02:06: What does safety mean to you?

00:02:08: Also in three words.

00:02:10: For us it's definitely speed, precision and of course responsibility.

00:02:14: So there is a bit of overlap and some things are a bit different but everything is summarised very accurately.

00:02:21: Then we'll start with Mr Lininger.

00:02:24: We'll come to your area of responsibility in a moment and I'd like to ask you how big your area is, the area of plant security and firefighting.

00:02:33: Our area not only covers the Füstalpine factory premises, but is essentially bounded by the Danube and Trown.

00:02:40: We look after an area of approximately six point five square kilometers here and many external companies, such as large companies belonging to Felbermaier or prime metals.

00:02:51: Mr Lininger, I will come back to you later with lots of questions.

00:02:55: But now I would like to move on to Mr Schmollmühler.

00:02:58: We have already established that you are head of plant security at the lint site.

00:03:03: Now I would like to know how we can picture this.

00:03:06: What does a control center like this look like?

00:03:09: The plant security system also includes the central control center which forms the heart of the system and where all alarms are received, whether they are one, two, two, one, three, three or one, four, four, even the lift.

00:03:21: emergency call is included and it is staffed around the clock by at least two people and we coordinate the three emergency services there.

00:03:30: We also need fire and burglar alarms and the traffic situation there and we also carry out the approvals for gas work and much more.

00:03:38: So you mentioned the emergency numbers, which we should all know by heart, right?

00:03:42: That means that when I dial one of these numbers, whichever one it will come through to your control center.

00:03:48: That's right, exactly.

00:03:50: And that's where we then carry out the notification.

00:03:52: We open the call and the emergency services are then alerted and dispatched in a flash.

00:03:58: All of this happens in a flash.

00:04:00: I can already see that it is a big task, a task that is very multifaceted in your area of responsibility.

00:04:08: How many people work in your plant security department?

00:04:11: We have around seventy people working for us, including our porters, who work in the executive houses.

00:04:17: Now, of course, we've been talking about people, but I've heard that you also have animal employees, namely a dog unit.

00:04:24: Why do you need a dog unit on the premises of First Alpina Lins?

00:04:28: The dog unit is a specialized area of our work and the dogs are specially trained to search for people.

00:04:35: They also support us in special operations.

00:04:38: We train them.

00:04:39: We also work with the police and military and they are an important part of our security strategy.

00:04:44: We have four service dog handlers, two women and two men and six service dogs in operation.

00:04:50: They complement our technical and personnel measures and provide additional presence and responsiveness.

00:04:56: And the service dogs live with their owners?

00:04:59: Or how does that work?

00:05:01: The dog handler is the owner and we have a contract with them and pay for everything.

00:05:05: That means the food and any veterinary expenses.

00:05:08: So the dog lives with a family and is really in a family environment?

00:05:12: Exactly.

00:05:12: Perhaps we should take a step back in time.

00:05:15: What interests me is, since when has factory security existed in this form?

00:05:20: Basically factory security has been around since first Alpine Linz was established.

00:05:25: But of course the tasks have changed over the decades.

00:05:29: Our main task is to maintain order and safety.

00:05:32: This includes above all... access control, traffic control, ADR checks, radioactivity checks at the entrances, and also at the railway, then construction site security and investigation services after incidents.

00:05:47: We also provide services for other companies on the site, such as alcohol checks, checks on shift buses and car parks.

00:05:54: We have internal shortages and also ensure that traffic routes are kept clear for heavy goods vehicles on the move and for the fire brigade when it needs to be deployed.

00:06:03: In figures, we carry out twenty-seven thousand property and facility checks and eighteen thousand vehicle and personnel checks at the factory entrances every year.

00:06:12: This makes a significant contribution to the safety and functionality of the entire factory.

00:06:17: Now, you mentioned that factory security has been around since time immemorial, so to speak.

00:06:22: Now, I assume that some things have improved.

00:06:24: What has improved?

00:06:25: What can you say?

00:06:26: Quite a lot.

00:06:27: Of course, plant security has been continuously developed on an annual basis.

00:06:32: This is both technical and organizational.

00:06:35: A good example of this is the introduction of a thirty kilometers per hour speed limit throughout the entire plant premises.

00:06:41: And there has also been a noticeable and significant reduction in traffic accidents, which means a high level of safety for all employees at the plant.

00:06:49: but that's not all.

00:06:51: We have also made improvements in terms of digitalization, for example in access control and incident documentation, because we record all incidents and have a well-functioning reporting system.

00:07:03: Modern technology supports us in this with video surveillance and communication during operations.

00:07:08: We also see ourselves as a supervisory authority and are there for the service providers and partners on the factory premises.

00:07:17: Our clear focus here is on prevention and rapid response.

00:07:21: I've been with you guys at First Alpina for quite some time now with our podcasts.

00:07:26: And of course I've had the opportunity to get to know many of your employees.

00:07:30: And what really struck me is that they all carry ID cards.

00:07:33: They always have a kind of laces, flexible laces, which they always have at hand.

00:07:39: Why is this ID card so important, so relevant, and what function does it serve?

00:07:44: First of all, it allows employees to be recognized on the factory premises as employees.

00:07:49: And not only that, it also plays an important role in controlling access to the factory premises and office areas.

00:07:56: It has a great function with the Follow Me printer.

00:07:59: This allows for flexible and secure printing.

00:08:01: Then pay at Caselli.

00:08:03: Employees can shop there at low prices.

00:08:05: And something that is in the works for the future is AMAP.

00:08:10: This is the registration and deregistration system for personnel who have access to the facility.

00:08:16: I have one hundred twenty thousand access cards to pay for.

00:08:19: For employees, visitors, contractors and freight carriers.

00:08:23: That's a high number.

00:08:24: The self-service terminals also support us and we check work permits there too.

00:08:29: Did you know that one point seven million cars, two hundred thousand lorries and up to twenty thousand visitors drive in here?

00:08:36: Of course I wouldn't have known because that's an incredible number.

00:08:40: Exactly, we have to work through all of that and... What's also important is that the contractors who work on our factory premises complete this so-called Sartre training.

00:08:49: This is safety training that is necessary for the factory to be issued.

00:08:53: To me, Sartre sounds a bit like a French philosopher, but I think it's about something else, and it's spelled differently.

00:09:00: What exactly is this Sartre training for us laymen?

00:09:03: What does that even mean, Mr.

00:09:05: Schmormiller?

00:09:06: SATRE is an abbreviation for safety training environment, and the objective of the safety training at the LENS site is to improve and communicate safety issues to contractors.

00:09:16: It is also mandatory for us to carry this out, and the safety training is valid for two years.

00:09:22: Once it has expired, it must be renewed and repeated.

00:09:25: That means keeping your finger on the pulse, so to speak.

00:09:29: Mr.

00:09:29: Leninger, I'll come back to you now.

00:09:32: What are your main responsibilities in the company fire brigade?

00:09:36: Well, we are responsible for all fire protection measures on the factory premises, both reactive and preventive.

00:09:43: This means that we deal with traditional firefighting and technical operations, but a significant part of our work also involves fire protection planning for new buildings and renovations, where we support the project managers from submission to completion and then inspect all fire protection equipment.

00:10:02: What you have described sounds like it requires a wide range of expertise and knowledge.

00:10:06: How many employees are responsible for this?

00:10:09: We have around one hundred firefighters, including three women who work in various areas of fire protection.

00:10:16: In addition to traditional firefighting, we also have a high-angle rescuers and divers.

00:10:21: As part of the Upper Austrian Fire Brigade Association, we are also a high-angle rescue water and drone base.

00:10:29: We have around fourteen fire engines, but above all, a lot of special equipment that is tailor-made to the requirements of the company.

00:10:37: So you're working with a really large team.

00:10:39: Perhaps we should go through this step by step.

00:10:42: Let's turn our attention to fire safety.

00:10:44: What does preventive fire safety mean?

00:10:47: I've read about it.

00:10:48: What does that mean in concrete terms?

00:10:50: So basically, we provide support for all new builds and conversions.

00:10:54: The project managers start with the planning phase, obtain official approvals and see all projects through to completion.

00:11:01: For example, we carry out fire safety simulation calculations here.

00:11:05: As you can imagine, FirstAlpina is a large company, and we often cannot comply with the standard lengths of escape routes that apply in Austria.

00:11:14: In such cases, simulations are used to demonstrate that safety objectives are still met, even if these lengths of escape routes are exceeded, and that employees can always leave the facility safely in the event of an emergency.

00:11:28: It already sounds like a lot of work to me, but I assume you have many, many more tasks.

00:11:33: What other tasks do you have?

00:11:35: Together with around one hundred twenty fire safety officers from the company, we ensure that all testing activities for Fus d'Alpine are carried out in accordance with legal compliance requirements.

00:11:47: We check fire alarm systems, extinguishing systems and hydrants.

00:11:51: We secure gas works.

00:11:53: We issue approvals when people need to enter containment.

00:11:56: We carry out air analyses and ensure that employees can carry out their work safely.

00:12:02: You mentioned earlier that you also have divers on your team.

00:12:05: I find that really exciting.

00:12:07: So you also carry out diving operations.

00:12:10: What does that involve?

00:12:11: Yes, you can imagine that it's certainly not like diving in the Maldives.

00:12:15: We always dive in industrial areas with heavy diving equipment and helmets.

00:12:20: For example, we inspect the factory harbour, free ships from chains that have become entangled in the propellers, and install sheet piling in the power station.

00:12:31: So you've already said that it's a very, very job.

00:12:33: What I'm wondering is how is the training organised?

00:12:36: We basically have a multifaceted training system.

00:12:39: Approximately fifty percent of the training takes place internally due to the special requirements of a steelworks.

00:12:46: And the rest of the training is carried out in cooperation with the Austrian professional fire brigades and the upper Austrian state fire brigade school.

00:12:54: So there is also cooperation.

00:12:57: Now of course you have to train so that you can really handle possible operations in the best possible way.

00:13:03: So I assume that you have emergency drills.

00:13:06: As I said, you have to practice and train for an emergency so that everything works perfectly in a real emergency.

00:13:14: How does an emergency drill work?

00:13:16: So basically, they are very intensive.

00:13:18: The primary focus here is on practicing immediate hazard prevention with the emergency services and the local operations.

00:13:26: But the back office, the managers at Fürst-Alpina also practice here to avoid consequential damage.

00:13:33: Now of course you work in a very specialized field, namely in the industrial sector.

00:13:38: What are the particular challenges of working in the industrial sector?

00:13:42: We generally struggle with applications involving the discharge of molten materials, pig iron, steel or molten slag.

00:13:50: Applications involving our carbon monoxide containing metallurgical gases should not be completely disregarded either.

00:13:59: You mentioned earlier that you have a large team and special equipment, so I would like to ask what kind of equipment you have in Linn's.

00:14:05: What do you use there?

00:14:06: Are there any special vehicles or machines that are specifically designed for your needs?

00:14:11: In addition to the classic fire engines that everyone is familiar with, we have special vehicles and specialized vehicles tailored to the hazardous situation in the first alpina, such as vacuum tankers.

00:14:23: But above all, large pump units with a delivery rate of up to fifteen thousand litres per minute.

00:14:28: to enable emergency cooling, for example, on the units.

00:14:31: Last but not least, we have two emergency boats stationed on the Danube, where we are responsible for the entire Linz City area as part of the Danube Emergency Plan.

00:14:43: Now, I've read that you also work with drones.

00:14:45: How does that work?

00:14:47: What do you use these drones for?

00:14:49: So drones are currently a very prosperous area.

00:14:52: We carry out thermographic measurements here on behalf of the company.

00:14:56: For example, we determine volumes such as how much scrap metal is currently at the scrap yard.

00:15:02: And of course, we also support our operations managers.

00:15:05: In future, drones will also carry out surveillance flights to secure the factory premises.

00:15:10: So here too, there is a means of performing the tasks even better.

00:15:14: The electric arc furnace is currently being built on the factory premises.

00:15:18: Our listeners are familiar with green-text steel.

00:15:22: It's a well-known term.

00:15:23: In your view, has there been a change in the challenges posed by transformation or decarbonization?

00:15:29: Yes, we addressed this topic some time ago.

00:15:32: A colleague of mine who completed a master's degree at Danube University Cremes chose this as the subject of his master's thesis in which he examines how decarbonization measures in linse are changing the risks faced by the fire brigade.

00:15:48: That means there are changes, but you are naturally preparing for them as best you can.

00:15:52: Now of course, as we have already discussed, you have some really challenging assignments.

00:15:57: I would be interested to know if you perhaps have a few figures on the number of assignments or maybe some examples for us.

00:16:04: Of course, this varies from year to year, but you can roughly assume that there are around one hundred fifty firefighting operations and four hundred technical operations.

00:16:14: When it comes to fires, I would say that Burst hydraulic lines in combination with ignition sources very often present us with major challenges, as these really act like flamethrowers and are also very difficult to fight.

00:16:29: And when it comes to technical assistance, I would particularly like to highlight our high altitude rescuers who rescue people who have fallen or had accidents from pits or often from dizzying heights, and then hand them over safely to the company rescue service in the hut.

00:16:46: corridor.

00:16:47: So you really have a lot to do.

00:16:49: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and of course the entire team.

00:16:54: What you are doing here is remarkable.

00:16:56: We are now moving locations and taking a brief look at Donowitz.

00:17:00: Of course there is also a company fire brigade there.

00:17:02: It is led by Gregor Reisner.

00:17:04: Mr Reisner, welcome.

00:17:06: You have the privilege of working in a venerable building.

00:17:09: The fire station you are in has been around since eighteen sixty-eight.

00:17:13: The

00:17:13: roots of the Donowitz company Fire Brigade actually date back to eighteen sixty-eight, making it the oldest existing company fire brigade in Austria according to current knowledge.

00:17:23: The further development of industry over many decades also set a process in motion in the field of firefighting.

00:17:30: Equipment, personnel and training gradually adapted to the requirements.

00:17:33: Safety really does have a long history in Donovitz.

00:17:37: And what interests me is how the emergency services are structured in Donovitz.

00:17:43: Our company Fire Brigade is a separate department that also covers plant safety and emergency services.

00:17:48: We have a total of around forty employees, seventeen of whom work directly in the Fire Brigade.

00:17:53: They are divided into three service groups.

00:17:56: The pottery and post office departments are also part of the organization.

00:18:00: So it's a really large team.

00:18:02: How big is the Donavit site?

00:18:03: The first Alpena Donavit site covers an area of approximately one hundred and fifty hectares.

00:18:08: It stretches along the Vordenberg Valley for a length of around three point five kilometers and a width of around four hundred and fifty meters.

00:18:15: We manage this area of around one point five square kilometers with approximately two thousand five hundred first Alpena employees and over thirty external companies with around one thousand employees.

00:18:25: There is a central control centre in Linz.

00:18:28: Is there anything similar in Donauwitz?

00:18:30: Yes, and it is even relevant outside the Fust-Alpina area.

00:18:34: Our emergency call centre is not only responsible for Fust-Alpina, but also for the entire district of Lyoben.

00:18:40: If someone in the town dials one to two, the call comes to us, we then forward it and alert the responsible fire brigade directly from their location.

00:18:48: Very interesting.

00:18:50: So you are essentially the headquarters for the entire Lyoben district.

00:18:54: Can you tell us how many call-outs you have each year?

00:18:57: We respond to around seven hundred to eight hundred calls per year.

00:19:00: Many of these are fire alarms, including false alarms.

00:19:03: In addition, we respond to every workplace accident with our own rescue vehicle.

00:19:07: That's around two hundred calls per year.

00:19:09: If necessary, an emergency doctor is called in from the hospital just one kilometer away.

00:19:14: So really considerable figures.

00:19:16: What other tasks does your department perform?

00:19:19: In addition to traditional blue light duties, we carry out alcohol and vehicle checks, organize access controls and coordinate security and SAT training.

00:19:28: We have our own training room for this purpose where both internal and external company employees are trained.

00:19:33: The documents for the factory ID card are issued directly on site.

00:19:37: This affects several thousand people annually, particularly due to the RF project involving many external companies.

00:19:43: Which vehicles are available to you there?

00:19:45: The fleet of vehicles at the fire station is state-of-the-art.

00:19:48: In addition to fire engines and special vehicles, we also have a turntable ladder and a state-of-the-art swap body vehicle with a crane, which is our newest addition.

00:19:56: With various containers, such as a ten-thousand-litre water tank and a generator container, we are optimally equipped for a wide range of scenarios.

00:20:04: I'm sure you also work with the team in Linz.

00:20:07: How does the collaboration with your colleagues in Linz work?

00:20:10: The collaboration works very well.

00:20:12: We exchange information regularly, especially on topics such as crisis management, preventive fire protection and plant safety.

00:20:18: The sites benefit from each other.

00:20:20: The joint exchange of experience increases the efficiency of the departments, which ultimately enhances the safety of the entire sites.

00:20:27: Now you surely have some very special assignments.

00:20:30: Which ones have stuck in your memory?

00:20:32: Last year, our factory premises were hit by flooding.

00:20:35: Within minutes, the water level in the adjacent park rose alarmingly.

00:20:39: and water was already entering parts of the factory premises.

00:20:43: With the help of agreed forces, we managed to keep the water away from the most sensitive equipment.

00:20:48: This event once again demonstrated the importance of effective emergency management and good cooperation with neighbouring fire brigades.

00:20:55: And we realise once again that safety is teamwork.

00:20:58: And at the Linz and Donawit sites, both go hand in hand perfectly.

00:21:03: Many thanks to Mr.

00:21:03: Reissner, Mr.

00:21:04: Schmollmüller and Mr.

00:21:06: Lininger for these truly fascinating insights behind the scenes of the emergency services.

00:21:12: And a really big thank you to everyone who works to ensure safety every day in Linz, Donawit and all other Fussdalpene locations.

00:21:20: Thank you very much.

00:21:21: You're welcome.

00:21:22: Dear listeners, as always, here is a brief summary of three important lessons at the end of the episode.

00:21:28: Plant Security, the company Fire Brigade and Medical Services all work closely together, coordinated by a central control center that bundles all alarms and manages operations.

00:21:40: The fewest Alpina company Fire Brigade at the lint site alone employs one hundred people, while the Plant Security team has seventy members.

00:21:49: There is even a dedicated dog unit and diving operations are carried out on a regular basis.

00:21:55: That was episode thirty of my podcast.

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