“The purpose of the drill was to prepare everyone’s response to emergencies in the building. This ensures and enhances emergency preparedness when incidents occur,” said Paulinah Malapane, acting spokesperson of MLM.

People were encouraged to vacate the building immediately after an emergency alert rang and to familiarise themselves with the building’s emergency exits. “The exercise was to better know how to exit safely and as quickly as possible when a fire erupts, or in case smoke is detected, or a bomb threat, or any other emergency situation that may emanate.

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It also familiarised the occupants with the sound of the emergency alarm,” Malapane said. The employees managed to evacuate the building in less than ten minutes and the Mopani Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services responded within ten minutes.

“No casualties were reported, at   least one employee was trapped in the building and was rescued and given the necessary attention by the medical personnel and transported to a health facility. “She is reported to be in a stable condition. The exercise was successful,” she concluded.