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