WORKPLACE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

What is an Emergency

 Accident
o Unexpected event which causes damage and harm. Happens by chance
 Emergency
o An unforeseen combination of circumstances at the resulting state that calls
for immediate action
 Disaster
o A sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss and destruction

Level of Emergency
Depends on severity of the incident and capability of the organization
Level 1 – If within the capabilities of the organization
Level 2 – If external assistance is required: Mutual aid, district or other agencies
Level 3 – State of National Disaster

Goal of Emergency Response

 Control, reduce or stop the cause

 Control situation and limit secondary damage.
 Continue operation and recover quickly
 Save life
 Save property, asset and reputation
 Save community and the environment

BASIC ELEMENTS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

MANAGEMENT
I. Organize emergency management Team
II. Identify the accident scenarios and emergency consequences
III. Identify resources, equipment and facilities
IV. Develop plans and procedures
V. Train, drill and exercise
VI. Review System
Emergency Planning

 Threat and Hazard Identification

 Assessment of emergency scenario
o Regional communication loss and national power outage
o Transportation disruption (floods, broken bridges)
 Plan for Emergency Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery

Types of Potential Hazard

 Natural Events
 Technological Events
o Mechanical Problem (e.g. ruptured pipes, metal fatigue) Chemical spills,
aircraft crash, fire, explosion
 Human Events
o Wrong Valve Open, miscommunication about what to do
o Sabotage, terrorism

Hazard Consequence Analysis – For Emergency and Recovery Plans

 What hazard are most likely to occur

 What functions or services are affected
 In what way the functions could not be perform following a disaster
 What are the critical functions
 What actions will protect them
 What functions has to be restored quickly

Potential Impact of Hazard

 Health, safety and Environment

o Person in affected area
o Personnel responding to the incident
o Pollution to the environment
 Legal
o Regulatory and contractual obligations
 Business
o Continuity of operations and delivery of services
o Property, facilities, and infrastructure loss
o Reputation of the organization
o Economic and financial condition

Emergency Plan Strategy

- Emergency plan should be capable of dealing with the worst case credible
scenario
- However, detailed planning should concentrate on the more likely events
- Plans should also be sufficiently flexible to ensure that an emergency response
can be verified according to the severity of the incident
Recovering Strategy

 Objectives: Restore functions as early as possible

 Redundancy or alternatives arranged for identified critical functions
- Alternative site, supplier arrangement
 Roles and responsibilities for restoration identified
- E.g. recovery manager team, communications, utilities, purchasing, HR and site
security
Mitigation Measure

 Interim and long term – to eliminate or reduce impact of hazard that cannot be
eliminated

- Access, escape routes and shelters

- Early Warning – Establishment of hazard warning and communication
procedures.
- Materials – removal, reduction, modification, segregation, or elimination
- Heat, fluids etc protective system
- Structures – building construction standards

Emergency to be made available

 Command post
o Identified, equipped, tested and maintained
o Operations manual
 PPE list
 Where needed toxic, explosive gas detectors, wind indicators
 Resources from external sources
Regular Test of Emergency Equipment and Facilities
- Check and document alarm system frequently
- Frequent tests of fire fighting equipment
Immediate Strategic Plans
- Identification of vital personnel (core team) systems, operations and equipment
- Priorities for restoration and mitigation
- Acceptable downtime before restoration to a minimum level.
- Minimum resources needed to accomplish the restoration
Plans

 Written Plans
- Strategic
- Operations
- Mitigation
- Recovery Plan
 Roles and responsibilities
- Incident commander, recovery manager, communication and public rlations
 Lines of authority
Emergency Operating Manuals

 For refer during an emergency

 Who does what, information and data
 Balance between overview and detailed response
 Need to know, nice to know
 Sound interesting enables flexibility
 Simple language
Incident Procedures

 Control of access to the area

 Identification of personnel at the incident
 Accounting for personnel in incident activities
 Accounting for person affected, displaced, or injured by the emergency
 Mobilization and demobilization of resources
Training

 Familiarization
- Manual familiarization, specific courses (Chemical fire, rescue, decontamination,
media etc)
 Personnel Readiness
- Know the fundamental role
- Know your way around the manual
- Have your personal aid ready
- Know the early action well
- Ensure alternate is ready
Exercise and Drills

 Types and subjects

Types: Simulated “Real”
Subjects: Operational, security, Commercial

 Preparation for exercise

Scenarios, timing of events, roles (including media) and resources
Secret but forewarn other parties as necessary
Evaluation

 Plan should be reviewed annually and updated as necessary

 Be re-evaluated when:
- There are changes (regulatory, new hazard, existing hazard changes)
- Resources or organizational structure change

 After test, drills or exercise

 After disaster responses
 Infrastructure changes