Please note that our ERP consulting services does not alter or determine compliance responsibilities that are described in the provincial and federal standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Due to the fact that interpretations and enforcement policy may change over time, the best sources for compliance requirements are current administrative interpretations of regulations and decisions by the Ministry of Labour Health Canada and the courts.
Introduction
Nobody anticipates an emergency or disaster — especially when it affects not only them but their employees and business personally. Yet the simple truth is that emergencies and disasters have the potential to strike anyone, anytime, and anywhere.
Our site specific or project specific Emergency Response Plans are designed to help you (the employer) plan for that possibility. The best way to protect yourself, your workers, and your business is to expect the unexpected. With the goal of developing a well-thought out emergency action plan that will guide you when immediate action is necessary.
What is a workplace emergency?
A workplace emergency is an unforeseen situation that threatens your employees, customers, or the public. It may cause disruptions or shut downs of your operations; or causes physical or environmental damage. Emergencies may be natural or manmade and include the following:
- Floods
- Hurricanes/Tornadoes
- Fires
- Toxic gas releases
- Chemical spills
- Radiological accidents
- Explosions
- Civil disturbances/Protests
- Workplace violence (threats, unknown package, active shooter)
How do you protect yourself, your employees, and your business? The best way is to prepare to respond to an emergency before it happens. Often during these events few people have the capacity to think clearly and logically during a crisis. Therefore, it is important to plan in advance.
Our consultants can assist you with worst-case scenarios and then strategically develop realistic and effective response plans.
What is an emergency action plan?
An emergency action plan covers designated actions that employers and employees must take to ensure employee safety from fire and other emergencies. Not all employers are required to establish an emergency action plan. Even if you are not specifically required to do so, compiling an emergency action plan is a good way to protect yourself, your employees, and your business during an emergency.
Our consultants can assist you in putting together a comprehensive emergency action plan that deals with all types of issues specific to your worksite.
What should your emergency action plan include?
When developing your emergency action plan, we look at a wide variety of potential emergencies that could occur in your workplace. It will be tailored to your worksite and include information about all potential sources of emergencies. Developing an emergency action plan means you should do a hazard assessment to determine what, if any, physical or chemical hazards that are present in your workplaces could cause an emergency. If you have more than one worksite, each site should have its own emergency action plan.
At a minimum, your emergency action plan will include the following:
- A preferred method for reporting fires and other emergencies
- An evacuation policy and procedure
- Emergency escape procedures
- Directory of individuals both within and outside your company to contact for additional information or explanation of duties and responsibilities under the emergency plan
- Procedures for employees who remain to perform or shut down critical plant operations
- Rescue and medical duties for any workers designated to perform them.
- Designating an assembly location and procedures to account for all employees after an evacuation
In addition, our consultants will recommend the site of an alternative communications center to be used in the event of a fire or explosion. There may be recommendations for a secure on- or offsite location to store originals or duplicate copies of accounting records, legal documents, your employees’ emergency contact lists, and other essential records.
A disorganized evacuation can result in confusion, injury, and property damage. That is why when developing your emergency action plan it is important to ensure your consultants are knowledgeable. Our consultants have many years of experience and have a varied background in EMS, Law Enforcement, Security and Fire services.
What type of training do your employees need?
We can assist you in training your employees about the types of emergencies that may occur and train them in the proper course of action. The size of your workplace and workforce, processes used, materials handled, and the availability of onsite or outside resources will determine your training requirements. We will help to ensure that all your employees understand the function and elements of your emergency action plan, including types of potential emergencies, reporting procedures, alarm systems, evacuation plans, and shutdown procedures. Discuss any special hazards you may have onsite such as flammable materials, toxic chemicals, radioactive sources, or water-reactive substances. Clearly communicate to your employees who will be in charge during an emergency to minimize confusion.
General training for your employees will address the following:
- Individual roles and responsibilities
- Threats, hazards, and protective actions
- Notification, warning, and communications procedures
- Means for locating family members in an emergency
- Emergency response procedures
- Evacuation, shelter, and accountability procedures
- Location and use of common emergency equipment
- Emergency shutdown procedures
You also may wish to train your employees in first-aid procedures, including protection against bloodborne pathogens; respiratory protection, use of an escape-only respirator; and methods for preventing unauthorized access to the site.
Once you have reviewed your emergency action plan with your employees and everyone has had the proper training, it is a good idea to hold practice drills as often as necessary to keep employees prepared.
Review your plan with all your employees and consider requiring annual training in the plan. Also offer training when you do the following:
- Develop your initial plan
- Hire new employees
- Introduce new equipment, materials, or processes into the workplace that affect evacuation routes
- Change the layout or design of the facility
- Revise or update your emergency procedures