15 December 2024
Harita Nickel has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility by implementing best practices throughout its operations on Obi Island. As part of this commitment, the company's Health, Safety & Environment Department partnered with the Disaster Risk Reduction Center of Universitas Indonesia (DRRC UI) to organize the Kawasi Siaga Bencana (Kawasi Disaster Preparedness) program.
The program took place over four days, from December 10–13, 2024, in the newly developed settlement of Kawasi Village. Participants included residents, school students, village officials, and other stakeholders. The event provided training on disaster and earthquake preparedness, including basic firefighting techniques and First Aid (P3K). The program concluded with a tsunami emergency response and evacuation simulation.
Supriyanto Suwarno, Occupational Health and Safety Manager at Harita Nickel, explained that the disaster preparedness training was conducted as a precautionary measure against potential disasters in the company’s operational area. According to a risk assessment conducted by DRRC UI, Kawasi Village is vulnerable to various natural hazards, including earthquakes, strong winds, high waves, floods, and tsunamis.
“This Kawasi Siaga Bencana activity is part of Harita Nickel's commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. It is an extension of our efforts in Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental Protection (K3LH), which also prioritize community safety around our operational areas,” Suwarno noted.
The program was warmly welcomed by Kawasi residents. Reinhar Siar, Chairperson of Kawasi Village’s Consultative Body (BPD), expressed gratitude for Harita Nickel’s initiative, stating that it greatly supported government efforts to raise awareness about disaster preparedness and management.
“Residents are very pleased to have this opportunity because it makes us more vigilant about potential disasters and teaches us what to do. This training is not just for natural disasters but also for other emergencies that could occur at any time,” said Siar, thanking Harita Nickel and Universitas Indonesia for organizing the event.
The Kawasi Siaga Bencana program involved Harita Nickel’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), which supported the hands-on training sessions and tsunami evacuation simulation. Additionally, medical teams from both the company and local government, Harita Nickel’s Community Relations team, and personnel from the TNI/Polri (Indonesian Armed Forces and Police) participated in the event.
Devi Partina Wardani, coordinator of DRRC UI, emphasized the importance of involving communities and stakeholders in disaster response efforts to minimize casualties during emergencies. “Through theoretical and practical training, as well as simulations, we aim to provide participants with a clear understanding of the necessary steps to take during disasters,” she explained.
The four-day program demonstrated excellent coordination among the participating parties, according to the DRRC UI team. The participants’ enthusiasm was equally notable, as they actively engaged in every session from start to finish.
“We highly appreciate Harita Nickel’s initiative in organizing this event. Hopefully, it serves as a constant reminder for the community, ensuring they know what to do when disaster strikes,” Wardani concluded.
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