Emergency Plan (Medical, Fire, Chemical, Extreme Weather)

PURPOSE

This practice provides requirements for developing a site- or office-specific procedure for response to, and management of, emergencies and disasters.  As projects/offices may have the potential for exposure to different hazards, it is necessary to develop procedures specific to the project/office.

SCOPE

• This practice includes the following major sections:
• General Requirements
• Responsibilities
• Emergency Evacuation
• Injury/Illness Care
• Chemical Spill

APPLICATION

This practice applies to work activities and employees under the control of company and its subcontractors.This practice, however, should not duplicate or replace procedures put in place by local emergency services.

DEFINITIONS

None. (if applicable)

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Management at each site, and in each office, must develop specific written emergency procedures/plans addressing signals and alarms, communications, actions, responsibilities, evacuation routes, assembly points, and personnel accounting.

Note: Adoption of, and/or coverage under, a client or other contractor’s emergency procedure(s) is acceptable, provided the following criteria are met:

• The procedure(s) covers emergencies/conditions that are reasonably anticipated, based on project scope.
• The “owner” of the procedure(s) agrees.
• Employees are trained in the procedure(s).
• Employees participate in drills, including post-drill analysis/feedback.

The important point to remember as a priority before implementing the Emergency Procedures, office management will designate and train an appropriate number of workforce to assist in the safe and formal emergency evacuation of employees.
Pertinent information about emergency signals, evacuation routes, assembly points and alarms to employees will be disseminated by whatever educational means are deemed most effective by the project/office (such as wallet cards, signs, orientations, bulletin.

 RESPONSIBILITIES

Project/office management or facility management will administer the requirements in this practice (if/as appropriate, in conjunction with client/owner emergency plans).
Management will regulate the proper and essential workforce/employees to perform emergency functions, for example:

• Define the emergency.
• Establish communication notification channels.
• Establish a communication network with the site or facility, including outside sources, if necessary
• Provide radio communications suited for monitoring the weather service frequency in the locale area.
• Establish personnel accountability systems (including visitors).
• Making sure that work ceases in the affected areas.
• Making sure that medical personnel respond as dictated by the emergency.
• Establish a technique to get help from outside, if necessary.
• Identify emergency shelters that may be used.
• Determine if employees can make it into work, or if employees at work can contact their families or travel home.
• Ensure offsite emergency service providers are oriented to the project/office and associated hazards.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION

• The purpose is to evacuate a site or facility systematically, safely, and in an orderly manner in case of fire or other major disasters, and to have a specified plan of action for a partial or full evacuation.
• The following requirements mandatory and required almost for all emergency evacuations:
• Unauthorized personnel may not re-enter the emergency area for any reason until the “all clear” signal is sounded.
• Keep clear and free of any obstruction or blockage of emergency personnel and equipment responding to the emergency.
• Do not make unnecessary telephone calls during an emergency.
• Only authorized management may release information outside the company.
• Site/facility manager is responsible for contacting corporate management, local, state, and/or federal authorities.

PRE-PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

Pre-planning of the evacuation process should include, but not be limited to, the following:
Evacuation Notice – After an evacuation notice has been given, management directly & promptly states the nature of the emergency and communicates this to all workforce/employees. The evacuation message should specify the type of evacuation (partial or full) and the personnel to whom it applies.  As an example, a message calling for the evacuation of the maintenance building would apply only to the people in that building.
Evacuation Assembly Areas – Personnel in the affected area at the time of the incident should go to a pre-designated assembly area that can be reached carefully.  All personnel must be familiar with all assembly area locations.
Note: Personnel temporarily assigned to areas other than their normal work location are to report to the evacuation point at the temporary work area.
Identify and post-emergency phone numbers:

• Fire, police, rescue
• Manager’s office
• Paging system
• Key personnel (home)

INJURY AND ILLNESS CARE

A. Onsite First-Aid Care.

First-aid personnel and facilities will be provided at the project/office, for the treatment of minor ailments. Apart from very minor cuts and scratches (which may be “self-treated” following project/office-specific procedures) first-aid personnel should treat first-aid cases.

B. Offsite Care.

Arrangements will be made with offsite medical service providers (at least two is recommended). Except in emergency circumstances, each employer will be responsible for transporting injured or ill employees to medical facilities off-site. The onsite first-aid provider will become the liaison officer with the offsite healthcare providers. An emergency telephone number must be posted around the site/office.

Emergency Care.

The office 0or project manager or engineer will determine the proper and essential process for providing emergency care to ill/injured personnel.  Attention and priority will be given to the size of the workforce, location, access, external service availability, and distances.

Quick Drench Facilities.

Where the body or eyes of an employer may be exposed to corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body will be provided within 10 seconds for emergency use.

10. CHEMICAL SPILL

The site/office will have adequately trained personnel to effectively respond to a spill of chemicals used or stored at the project/office.  Supplies of proper and essential personal protective equipment, cleanup tools, and equipment will be available. All spills will be reported, investigated, and when required notification will be given to the regulatory authorities, Environmental Management. 

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Emergency Plan (Medical, Fire, Chemical, Extreme Weather)