The mission of Polska Spółka Gazownictwa is to deliver gas fuel safely, continuously and with respect for the environment. Therefore, one of the key elements of the company's operations is the Gas Emergency Service, which intervenes whenever it detects escaping gas or a drop in gas pressure. An important part of training and sustaining skills at the highest level is unit response drills.

‘Such drills are very important for all services involved. They allow – under the most realistic conditions possible – to develop the necessary synchronisation in an emergency situation and to exchange experience among the services. The simulation precisely reflects the conditions of a real-world rescue operation. A call comes into the dispatch centre, and all the necessary services must reach the scene as soon as possible. Mock-ups of gas network facilities are also often used. Thanks to this, in the event of a real threat, all rescuers know what to do and what they must avoid,’ said Marian Żołyniak, board member for technical affairs at Polska Spółka Gazownictwa.

The drills are carried out according to varied scenarios. Depending on the drill plan, other rescue units are also involved. This is most often the State Fire Service, which is a natural partner of the Gas Emergency Service employees in their daily work. Last year, Polska Spółka Gazownictwa conducted 69 such simulations across the country.

– This is invaluable knowledge that translates into the safety of health and life during an actual rescue operation. That is why the employees responsible for preparing the simulation schedule the drills for various times of the day and in various weather conditions, knowing that harder training translates into more efficient and safer work in real-world conditions – concluded Marian Żołyniak, board member for technical affairs at Polska Spółka Gazownictwa.