| The purpose of an emergency response policy is to | | | | that there is a formal mutual aid agreement in place |
| provide a framework to the various sites a company | | | | with suitable organizations that could include formal |
| may have to prepare for emergency situations. In | | | | mutual aid structures. |
| order to be ready to deal with all expected | | | | - Emergency Drills. The requirement for emergency |
| emergencies appropriately, should they occur, it is | | | | response drills, including the criteria for determining |
| essential to have a written plan in order to ensure | | | | the frequency and content of the drills should be |
| the safety of employees, contractors and visitors. | | | | included. |
| In order to prepare properly for an emergency it is | | | | - Alarm Systems. A description of the alarm system, |
| important to understand what is meant by this term. | | | | including a procedure to ensure that all employees are |
| An emergency can be explained as a sudden, | | | | properly familiarized with all 'Alarm Systems' should be |
| generally unexpected occurrence or set of | | | | included as a standard. |
| circumstances demanding immediate action to | | | | - Incident Command System. The policy should |
| prevent human injury or ill-health, damage to | | | | include a requirement that every incident must have |
| property, damage to the environment. | | | | a written incident action plan. The purpose of this |
| This goal can be achieved by identifying | | | | plan is to provide all incident supervisory personnel |
| responsibilities and tasks in advance and ensure a | | | | with direction for actions to be implemented during |
| suitable and sufficient plan to respond to all the | | | | the operational period identified in the plan. |
| significant emergencies that may occur on the sites. | | | | - Incident Facilities including an Incident Command |
| A policy should apply to all company functional | | | | Post, Staging Areas and a requirement for a base. |
| divisions, business units, affiliates and subsidiary | | | | - Integrated Communications. The use of a common |
| companies, including contractors, sub-contractors and | | | | communications plan is essential to ensuring that |
| visitors. The policy document normally provides | | | | responders can communicate with one another during |
| guidance on preparing a plan for emergency | | | | an incident. The outlines of the communication plan |
| preparedness to these entities. | | | | and its requirements are an essential part of the |
| The objective of the emergency response plan is to | | | | policy. |
| provide mobilization and quick actions to control an | | | | - Transfer of Command. All emergency response |
| emergency scenario and minimize the impact on | | | | plans should contain an explanation of the transfer of |
| people, plant, production processes and the | | | | command. This requirement should be clearly defined |
| environment. | | | | in the policy. |
| When drafting an emergency response plan the | | | | - Mobilization. Managing resources safely and |
| principal considerations to take into account is to | | | | effectively is the most important consideration at an |
| ensure that, in case of an emergency, the following | | | | incident. This should form the basis for the |
| items are taken care of in the policy: | | | | mobilization requirements that is included in the policy. |
| - Rescue and medical care provisions to injured | | | | - Site Emergency Response Manual. In order to |
| persons. | | | | standardize, a framework for the plan should be |
| - Prevention strategy for the spread of the | | | | included in the of the policy. |
| emergency. | | | | - Declaring Emergencies. A standardized system and |
| - Arrangements for the protection of property | | | | criteria should be defined to declare emergencies. |
| already involved from increased damage. | | | | There should also be clear and unambiguous systems |
| - Plans to minimize the environment impact arising due | | | | and responsibilities in place to elevate the emergency |
| to release or spillage of chemicals and other materials | | | | to a higher level or to declare the return to normality |
| that can have a negative impact on the environment. | | | | state. It is the responsibility of all employees to |
| - Coordination of any outside help during emergency | | | | become familiar with the plan, with emphasis on their |
| with Mutual aid organisations. | | | | individually allocated roles contained in the plan that |
| - Arrangements to respond to significant incidents at | | | | they should fulfil during an emergency. |
| neighbouring facilities that have the potential to | | | | The incident command system, which is a |
| affect the organization or site. In addition to the | | | | standardized, on-scene, all-hazard incident |
| above it is important to include a requirement for the | | | | management concept that allows its users to adopt |
| following issues in the policy: | | | | an integrated organizational structure to match the |
| - Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments as well | | | | complexities and demands of single or multiple |
| as vulnerability assessments of specific sites. | | | | incidents without being hindered by operational |
| - Site Emergency Response Manual. To ensure | | | | structures, is a good concept to include in the policy |
| prompt effective action to reduce losses likely to | | | | as a requirement. |
| result from possible emergency situations, all the | | | | The efficient functioning of a well thought trough |
| emergencies, for which there is a reasonable | | | | emergency response plan will save valuable time and |
| probability of occurrence, should be contained in a | | | | assets in case of serious emergency and will result in |
| comprehensive Site Emergency Procedures Manual | | | | minimum adverse effects. |
| that is specific to each Area / Job Site / Project. For | | | | It is a proven fact that that through drills and training |
| a basic manual template follow this link. | | | | exercises the response to real emergencies will be |
| - Roles and Responsibilities. A clear and unambiguous | | | | more effective. Drills also provide an opportunity to |
| explanation of the roles and responsibilities of all | | | | evaluate the plan as well as the emergency |
| activities should be included. | | | | organizational structure for its effectiveness and |
| - Mutual Aid Agreements. The inclusion of the | | | | readiness to handle an emergency. |
| company specific requirement for each site to ensure | | | | |