GEBKİM OSB Discusses Disaster Preparedness in Industry on 17 August

GEBKİM OSB, Türkiye’s first specialised chemical organised industrial zone, put disaster preparedness and business continuity in industry on the agenda at an event held on the anniversary of the 17 August Marmara earthquake. The event, attended by Japanese earthquake expert Yoshinori Moriwaki, addressed earthquake risks, disaster management and the preparedness of industrial facilities.

With its “Disaster Preparedness and 17 August Marmara Earthquake Commemoration Programme”, held on the anniversary of the 17 August 1999 Marmara earthquake, GEBKİM Specialised Chemical Organised Industrial Zone shared with industry representatives its work on increasing the disaster preparedness capacity of industrial organisations.

The programme, held at the GEBKİM OSB Conference Hall, was attended by representatives of member companies in the zone as well as officials from neighbouring organised industrial zones and Dilovası Municipality. It began with a minute’s silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the 17 August Marmara earthquake.

Yoshinori Moriwaki: a culture of preparedness is vital
Japanese earthquake expert Yoshinori Moriwaki, who spoke at the programme, assessed Türkiye’s position on the earthquake belt and its seismic risks, and compared the disaster management approaches of Japan and Türkiye.

Drawing attention to the importance of structural safety, disaster awareness, education and individual preparedness, Moriwaki set out his assessment of the measures to be taken before an earthquake, correct behaviour during one and the processes to be followed afterwards.

He emphasised that, alongside the individual preparedness of employees at industrial facilities, emergency plans, regular drills and institutional response capacity play a critical role in disaster management.

Vefa İbrahim Aracı: “The resilience of industry directly affects the country’s recovery”
Vefa İbrahim Aracı, Chairman of the Board of GEBKİM Specialised Chemical OSB, said the major earthquakes Türkiye has experienced hold important lessons for disaster preparedness, and that cities and organised industrial zones must be made more resilient together.

Noting that disaster preparedness is not only emergency response but a long-term responsibility covering the whole of life and production, Aracı said organised industrial zones take on critical duties in maintaining production and protecting supply chains after a disaster.

Work continues under the principle “every factory is a fortress”
Stating that GEBKİM carries out its disaster preparedness work in line with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s principle that “every factory is a fortress”, Aracı said the readiness of factories, employees and production infrastructure for disasters is also of great importance for economic sustainability.

Aracı said work on training, drills, search and rescue capacity and business continuity planning at GEBKİM was being carried out with this understanding.

Disaster preparations strengthened at GEBKİM OSB
As part of its disaster preparations, GEBKİM OSB has formed a 27-strong GEBKİM Search and Rescue Team, which has completed AFAD training together with fire service personnel.

Fully equipped earthquake containers holding search and rescue equipment, emergency response and shelter tents and a Chemical Decontamination Tent have been made ready for use in the zone in the event of a disaster. Work also continues to develop employees’ response skills through regular earthquake drills.

A business continuity plan has been prepared
In order for production to continue uninterrupted after a disaster, GEBKİM has also drawn up a Business Continuity Plan under the RESMAR Project, carried out in coordination with AFAD.

Continuing its preparatory work under the project, which aims to increase the institutional resilience of organised industrial zones in the Marmara region, GEBKİM has trained around 2,000 people using the Emergency Response Software it has brought into use.

At the event, the practices being carried out in industrial disaster preparedness, business continuity and institutional resilience were shared with industry representatives, and attention was drawn to the importance of keeping earthquake awareness alive.