On 5 June, 2020, the Sectoral Commission of the RF Ministry of Industry and Trade for certification of emergency services, units and rescuers in the chemical industry (SCC 5/6) held a meeting. Among other things, the Commission considered the periodic certification of the Fire and Gas Rescue Service (FGRS) of Arkhangelsk PPM JSC.

By the Commission decision the mill's FGRS is certified in gas rescue operations.

According to the head of the Civil Defense, Emergency Situations and HSE Department Sergey Sheremetyev, at the end of April this year, the SCC 5/6 working group inspected the compliance of the APPM's FGRS with the mandatory requirements for the certification of the ERS (ERU) as well as the constant readiness for a prompt emergency response and remediation. The claimed type of works is gas rescue operations.

During the audit, the presence of the constituent documents of the FGRS, conformity of its composition and structure, level of staffing qualified for emergency rescue operations, availability of emergency and rescue means, conditions ensuring accommodation of the FGRS and implementation of measures for training of rescuers for emergency rescue operations, conditions for the rescuers' duty, etc. were examined.

Sergey Sheremetyev also specified that the operational readiness status was clarified during the training alert based on the ERP of the chlorine and chlorine products shop of the APPM's pulp production based on the event "Depressurization of the SO2 tank in the tank compartment. Formation of toxic wave of sulfur dioxide, intoxication of people. There is a victim.” The personnel of the FGRS duty shift and the management of the service, the interacting units of the mill (the personnel and neighborhood gas rescue unit of the chlorine shop, medical personnel of the health unit of NMC LLC, security staff of the private security company Lider LLC, specialists of TECh-Service LLC) were involved in the training alert.

In its final report, the working group noted that the actions of the duty shift meet the requirements for the ERS's constant readiness to come forward and respond to emergencies, tactics for gas rescue operations and established standards. In accordance with that, the Fire and Gas Rescue Service of Arkhangelsk PPM JSC complies with the mandatory requirements established by the "Regulation on the Certification of Emergency Rescue Services, Emergency Rescue Units, Rescuers and Citizens Acquiring Rescuer Status" (approved by the RF Government Decree No. 1091 of 22.12. 2011) and is recommended for certification in gas rescue operations.

According to the results of the performed FGRS certification, the enterprise significantly expanded its area of responsibility which included not only the facilities of Arkhangelsk PPM JSC, but also the facilities of Arkhbum LLC and GC Titan located throughout the Arkhangelsk region and even Arkhangelsk Plywood Plant JSC (when entering the service contract).

Simultaneously with the APPM's FGRS, the neighborhood emergency rescue team of Arkhbum LLC – the newly formed entity which responds to emergency situations related to the transport of dangerous goods (hazardous chemicals) by rail – underwent the initial certification by SCC 5/6. During the certification of the unit, no deviations were found.