A BP crew fights TEEX prop. - Photo by Anton Riecher

A BP crew fights TEEX prop.

Photo by Anton Riecher

John Coates, emergency response specialist for BP’ Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey (AGT) Region Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey (AGT) Region Midstream Midstream Team, spoke loud to be heard above the roar eam, spoke loud to be heard above the roar of a live-fire training prop at of a live-fire training prop at TexasA&M University’ A&M University’s Brayton s Brayton FireTraining Field last October.

“This is our evaluation,” he said, referring to the training “This is our evaluation,” he said, referring to the training scenario playing out on the multi-story process unit prop scenario playing out on the multi-story process unit prop behind him. behind him.

Training at the semi-annual corporate fire training school Training at the semi-annual corporate fire training school conducted by BP at Brayton divides into two categories – conducted by BP at Brayton divides into two categories – advanced exterior fire fighting and leadership. Coates served advanced exterior fire fighting and leadership. Coates served as lead instructor for aslead instructor forAEF1, based on the NFP AEF1, based on the NFPA 1081 standard. 1081 standard.

“Every AEF1 class has to go through an evaluation AEF1 class has to go through an evaluation process,” Coates said. “The class splits into three groups and process,” Coates said. “The class splits into three groups and rotates through the various training stations. The last station rotates through the various training stations. The last station is the process unit, which is used as a practical evaluation.” is the process unit, which is used as a practical evaluation.”

BP’s school in October boasted a student body of 35 for s school in October boasted a student body of 35 for AEF1 and more than 20 leadership students. While most were AEF1 and more than 20 leadership students. While most were from across the U.S., some came from distant places such as from across the U.S., some came from distant places such as Azerbaijan, Egypt and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Australia. Australia.

AGT Region sent Coates as an instructor and two others, AGT Region sent Coates as an instructor and two others, which included new Sangachal which included new Sangachal Terminal Fire Chief Sakhavat erminal Fire Chief Sakhavat Kazimov for and a fire shift commander Kazimov for and a fire shift commander.

“Sakhavat worked his way up from a driver-operator to “Sakhavat worked his way up from a driver-operator to become the newest BP become the newest BP employee in employee in Azerbaijan and the first Azerbaijan and the first full time tactical response employee,” Coates said.

A training coordinator training coordinator, contracted by Resource Protection International (RPI), attended, working in the background of International (RPI), attended, working in the background of the school to support Jennifer Dauer the BP coordinator for the fire school. Although she had worn bunker gear on the training field earlier in the week, she was observing from the training field earlier in the week, she was observing from the sidelines when interviewed. sidelines when interviewed.

“I like fighting fire,” she said. “For explaining about the fire “I like fighting fire,” she said. “For explaining about the fire it is sometimes easy and sometimes difficult.” Because it is sometimes easy and sometimes  difficult.” Because language can be a problem, she said she collected as many language can be a problem, she said she collected as many photographs of the training as possible. photographs of the training as possible.

Coates said that coordination of training events plays an Coates said that coordination of training events plays an important role in coordinating “Hell important role in coordinating “Hell Week,” an annual live fire eek,” an annual live fire training event in training event in Azerbaijan that mirrors the BP Azerbaijan that mirrors the BP corporate fire corporate fire school. school.

Brad Byczynski, discipline leader for BP’ Brad Byczynski, discipline leader for BP’s global refining s global refining emergency response, took charge of the second prong of the emergency response, took charge of the second prong of the annual corporate school – leadership training. annual corporate school – leadership training.

“It is something that has continued to evolve and that we “It is something that has continued to evolve and that we have continued to pursue,” Byczynski said. “It’ have continued to pursue,” Byczynski said. “It’s really about s really about developing front line leaders.” developing front line leaders.”

The leadership course focuses not only on the practical The leadership course focuses not only on the practical aspects of running a fire operation but the more philosophical aspects of running a fire operation but the more philosophical aspects such as how to properly give orders, how to motivate aspects such as how to properly give orders, how to motivate and how to get the team to pull in one direction. and how to get the team to pull in one direction.

 While two-thirds of the course is taught in the classroom, While two-thirds of the course is taught in the classroom, an important one-third consists of training on the fire ground, an important one-third consists of training on the fire ground, Byczynski said. Byczynskisaid.

“They get real time feedback on the fire ground,” he said. “They get real time feedback on the fire ground,” he said. “The training is video recorded to assess how the student “The training is video recorded to assess how the student performed and give them further feedback in the classroom.” performed and give them further feedback in the classroom.”

For much of the last nine years, Brayton has been the sole For much of the last nine years, Brayton has been the sole host for the leadership portion of the corporate fire school. However, BP has begun conducting leadership classes in fire has begun conducting leadership classes in fire fighting in Malaysia as well, Byczynski said.

“We are looking at holding them in e are looking at holding them in Australia too,” he said.

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