| One of the requirements of the Environmental | | | | plan available to the emergency services and a |
| Standard accreditation ISO14001:2004 is that any | | | | copy kept off site to ensure that timely action |
| organisation putting this standard into operation will | | | | can be taken to mitigate any accident and |
| need to have a plan to deal with emergency | | | | coordinate a response to the incident. |
| situations and accidents. | | | | The organisation should also test the plan to make |
| The plan sets out the identification of potential | | | | sure that in an emergency the plan would work. |
| environmental impacts and the routine to be | | | | Many organisations that do not practice the |
| performed in the event of an accident or incident | | | | actions needed will find that the first major |
| to: | | | | incident that happens for real will identify |
| - Respond to the accident or incident; | | | | significant failures in the plan. |
| - Prevent or reduce injury; | | | | Testing should ensure that: |
| - Protect or reduce the impact on adjacent | | | | - Everyone knows what to do |
| businesses, contractor's personnel and people living | | | | - There is less duplication of effort |
| working in the vicinity of the company; | | | | - The organisation can prevent injury and reduce |
| - Prevent or reduce environmental damage; | | | | or prevent pollution |
| The plan aims at prevention and therefore all | | | | - Get the organisation up and running as soon as |
| measures are taken to eliminate or reduce the | | | | possible after a potential problem. |
| potential causes of accidents and emergencies. | | | | The better prepared you are, the better you will |
| It is common practice to make a copy of the | | | | deal with an incident. |