Emergency Management

Health and Safety – 9964 SESSION 2 Emergency Management

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	SESSION 2: Emergency Management
	Learning Outcomes
	The location of fire extinguishers, hoses and alarms is known
	Different fire extinguishers are identified and used correctly
	Procedures for the identification of emergencies are known and followed promptly and correctly
	Injuries involving individuals are reported promptly to the relevant persons
	Procedures for reporting and recording are demonstrated
	Procedures to be followed if an injury may lead to a claim against workman’s compensation are followed.
	A brief incident report is written and delivered to the relevant authority

1. Introduction

Emergency procedures are plans for dealing with emergencies such as fires, explosions, major releases of hazardous materials, violent occurrences, or natural hazards. When such events occur, the urgent need for rapid decisions, shortage of time, lack of resources, and trained personnel can lead to chaos.

The objective of the plan is to prevent or minimize fatalities, injuries, and damage. The organization and procedures for handling these sudden and unexpected situations must be clearly defined.

What is a fire extinguisher?

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A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire.

1.1. Fire Extinguishers – Types & Uses

Portable Fire Extinguishers can save lives and property by putting out or containing fires within the capability of the extinguisher. However, they must be of the correct type for the particular fire, and they must be used correctly.

1.2. A fire hose

What is a fire hose used for?

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A fire hose is a high-pressure hose used to carry water or other fire retardant (such as foam) to a fire to extinguish it. Outdoors, it is attached either to a fire engine or a fire hydrant.

Indoors, it can be permanently attached to a building’s standpipe or plumbing system.

1.3. Fire Alarms

Fire alarms are another important security device that helps you to seek protection from fire accidents. Fire alarms help raise a loud noise and alerts you as soon as smoke is deducted by the fire detector. In most cases fire alarm systems act at the instigation of fire detectors and other devices.

What is a purpose of fire alarm?

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A Fire alarm helps you to be protected in case of fire breakouts. This device is usually made up of electromechanical or other metals and it will help you to make things better. They create a loud noise and you will be able to evacuate the building through alternative and safe passages created already for this purpose. Fire alarms have helped to save innumerable lives and properties.

1.4. Location of Fire Extinguisher, Hose and Alarms

Where are Fire Extinguishers, Hoses and Alarms normally located in the workplace?

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Location of Fire Hose

Fire hose is located in a particular place and in indoor fire hose is located in as permanently attached to a standpipe/plumbing system of the building. In case of outdoor, fire hose is located in as attached to a fire engine or fire retardant. Fire hose will be hanging in order to dry when it is used in fire extinguishing.

Location of Fire alarms and detectors

Fire alarms and detectors should be located where the early stages of fire will be detected, and ensure they are placed at regular intervals on the ceiling.

Location of Fire extinguishers

Ensure sufficient extinguishers are sited throughout the workplace
Ensure the right types of extinguishers are located close to the fire hazards and that users can gain access to them without exposing themselves to risk
Ensure the locations of the extinguishers are obvious or highlight their positions

2. Emergencies identification procedure

The objective of the plan is to prevent or minimize fatalities, injuries, and damage. The organization and procedures for handling these sudden and unexpected situations must be clearly defined.

The development of the plan follows a logical sequence.

Compile a list of the hazards (for example: fires, explosions, floods).
Identify the possible major consequences of each (for example: casualties, damage).
Determine the required countermeasures (for example: evacuation, rescue, firefighting).
Inventory the resources needed to carry out the planned actions (for example: medical supplies, rescue equipment, training personnel).
Based on these considerations, establish the necessary emergency organization and procedures.

Communication, training, and periodic drills are required to ensure adequate performance when the plan must be implemented.

2.1. Fire Evacuation Procedures

Assist any person in immediate danger to safety, if it can be accomplished without risk to yourself.
Immediately activate the building fire alarm system. This will automatically notify the fire department and get help on the way. It will also sound the fire alarm bells to evacuate the building and shut down the air handling units to prevent the spread of smoke. It is best to have the fire department respond and not be needed than to have them arrive too late for potential rescue. If you are in a building without a fire alarm system, dial 10177 from a safe location to report the fire.
If the fire is small enough, use a nearby fire extinguisher to control and extinguish the fire. Do not fight a fire if the following conditions exist:

You don’t know what’s burning. o The fire is spreading rapidly.
You don’t have the proper equipment. o You can’t do so with your back to an exit. o The fire might block your means of escape.
You might inhale toxic smoke.
Your instincts tell you not to do so.

If the first attempts to put out the fire do not succeed, evacuate the building immediately.
Doors, and if possible, windows, should be closed as the last person leaves a room or area.
Do not use elevators, use building stairwells.
Upon evacuation of the building, all should proceed to a designated meeting area where head counts can be taken.
Never reenter a building without permission from the fire department.

2.2. Flood Evacuation Procedures

Floods can be very dangerous and destructive to both people and property. Flash floods can happen with little warning and residents need to evacuate quickly before their homes are destroyed. Flood evacuation needs to be pre-planned and organized to generate the most efficient results and there are specific procedures to follow if you need to perform a flood evacuation quickly.

What procedure would you follow during floods?

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The following could assist when preparing or during floods, see table below:

Preparation

Have a list of essentials prepared that you need to grab in the event of an evacuation emergency. Keep the list in a readily accessible place. Decide in advance where to go in the event of an evacuation.

Preparing your property

Always turn off and unplug all of your appliances before you evacuate your property for flooding. You want to lower the odds of an electrical fire, as water coming into the property can cause short circuits with any electrical devices left operating. Shut off all your utilities, such as electrical breakers and water valves. Take any small valuables with you when you leave. Lock all your doors and windows to keep the property as secure as possible

Stay Informed

Check your local emergency broadcast system regularly prior to evacuation, and check with neighbors to see if anyone has additional information. TV news reports can provide the latest updates prior to you leaving your property.

2.3. Report Workplace Injuries/Incidents

Employees are required to inform employers about all workplace accidents. The information may be used to determine the eligibility of worker benefits and to improve safety procedures. Workers’ compensation benefits are also available to employees who are injured in the workplace. Employees are eligible to receive workers’ compensation immediately after they are hired and begin working.

How are injuries reported in your workplace?

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The following steps can assist in reporting injuries in your workplace:

Step 1
Review employee handbook for proper accident reporting procedure. Do this immediately after being hired. Know company policy prior to an accident. You may be required to inform a manager, supervisor or human resources employee after an accident. Note: In most cases injuries are reported to an immediate manager/supervisor
Step 2
Obtain and fill out an accident report form. Ask for the company’s official document. Complete the form neatly. Write in complete sentences.
Step 3
Provide personal information. Write full name, home address. and job title of injured person.
Step 4
Complete the “about you” section only if you are completing the form on behalf of the person who had the accident. For example, if a fellow employee is involved in an accident and is injured so badly that he or she cannot complete the form, you can do so on that co-worker’s behalf. Provide your name, home address, and job title.
Step 5
Pinpoint the accident’s time and date. Be specific. Do not guess about the date or time. Doing so may cause the worker’s claim to be denied.
Step 6
Pinpoint accident location. Explain exactly where you (and, if applicable, your co-workers) were when the accident occurred. Be as specific as possible, mentioning the building, floor, and/or room where the accident happened
Step 7
Describe the cause of the accident. Explain your actions prior to the accident, and describe what tasks you were performing. List other employees who were involved or who witnessed the accident. Report all relevant actives, including misconduct of other employees if you observed that. For instance, write “I slipped in a recently mopped area that did not have a ‘wet floor’ sign visible.”
Step 8
Explain the nature of your injury. Be specific. List all known complications that occurred as a result of the accident. For example, “I hurt my arm and back when I fell.”
Step 9
Sign and date the form. Request a copy for your records.
Note	See Appendix C Injury Report Form

3. Workmen’s Compensation Claims

More accidents happen at work than anywhere else. In fact almost half of accidents that occur happen in the workplace. However it can be difficult for employees to bring a claim for compensation if injuries have been suffered. Many are scared of the possible “repercussions” if they take the firm that they are working for to court.

What Is the aim of Workmen’s Compensation Claims?

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The aim of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act is to provide for compensation for disablement caused by occupational injuries or diseases sustained or contracted by employees in the course of their employment, or for death resulting from such injuries or diseases; and to provide for matters connected therewith (such as medical expenses etc.)

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Although your employer is expected to report the incident and assist you with such a claim, it is possible to submit a claim personally.

When a worker becomes ill or injured on duty, the employer needs to notify the Department of Labour of the event. For this purpose the Employers Report of an Occupational Disease Form is to be completed.

The employee may then fill in follow up forms, and make a statement to start the claim process from the Compensation Commissioner. The employee form: ‘notice of an Occupational Disease and Claim for Compensation’.

Compensation Payouts

According to the NUMSA website Temporary disability Compensation for temporary disability is only paid if the workplace injury or disease lasts for three or more days. From the fourth day, Coida pays at a rate of 75% of his / her normal pay. For the first three months following the injury, the employer is responsible for the payment of temporary disability, being re-imbursed by the CCO. Coida pays direct to the worker after three months. Payment for temporary disability will occur for 12 months, and only under special circumstances extended to 24 months. When the worker is off work (temporary total disability), then he/she will receive 75% of his/her income for the time off work. Death due to workplace injury or disease Compensation is paid to workers’ spouse = lump sum of 2x the pension that he would have received if s/he had been 100% disabled (i.e. 2 x 75% of the monthly salary). Compensation paid to each dependant of 20-40 % of the pension the worker would have received had s/he been 100% disabled. Note that the sum of the pensions paid to all the dependants Permanent disability: Following assessment of disability according to the prescribed schedules in the Act, workers will receive after 12 (or 24) months, compensation for permanent disability, calculated as follows:

Less than 30% disability = (%disability/30) x 15x monthly income. (single lump sum payment) 30% disability = 15 x monthly income. (Person receives a single lump sum payment) 31 – 100% disability = (0.75 x monthly income) x % disability (monthly pension until death of worker) If you are dissatisfied about the degree of permanent disability awarded to you, you may object. Cannot be more than the pension the worker would have received had s/he been 100% disabled. Things to watch out for? A company pays an annual levy to Coida based on the number of workers it employs and their earnings. However, if a company’s accident record is very low at the end of the year, Coida gives the company a discount for the next year. But if the company’s accident record is very high in one year, Coida will make the company pay extra the next year. Because of this, often companies encourage safety representatives not to report ‘minor’ accidents because their increased accident record will increase their Coida payments. This can be bad for injured workers whose injuries are declared ‘minor’ and so are not reported to COIDA, but who years later develop aches, pains and complications from the earlier injury. Because the earlier accident was not reported to COIDA, the later complications cannot be linked to a work-related injury.

Note

See Appendix D a sample of Employers Report of an Occupational Disease Form

Appendix A

Sample Job Hazard Analysis Form

Job Title:	Job Location	Analyst	Date
Task #	Task Description:
	Task Description:
Hazard Type:	Hazard Description:
Consequence:	Hazard Controls:
Rational or Comment:

Appendix B

Occupational Health and Safety Plan

Table of contents

Purpose…………………………………………………………………………………………………………4 1.1

Scope………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …4

1.2

Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. .4 2

Obligations………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…4 2.1

Obligations……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. .4 3

Policies……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……….3

3.1 Workplace Health and

Safety…………………………………………………………………………………5

3.2 Rehabilitation

Policy……………………………………………………………………………………………….5

3.3 Drug and Alcohol

Policy………………………………………………………………………………………….5

Duties and responsibilities…………………………………………………………………………………………5
Communication

resources………………………………………………………………………………………..5

Reporting…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……….5

Rules for

Safety………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5 7.1

Behaviour………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

..5

7.2 First

aid……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

7.3

Maintenance………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

7.4

Layout………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

…6

Storage

areas………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6

Manual

handling…………………………………………………………………………………………………….6

Use of workplace

equipment…………………………………………………………………………………..6

Evacuation

procedures…………………………………………………………………………………………..6

Fire alarm

response…………………………………………………………………………………………….6

7.10.

Security………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Purpose

Outline the purpose of the occupational health and safety (OH&S) plan. This should include information on OH&S principles, objectives and practices in all business endeavours.

Scope

Outline the scope of the OH&S plan. This may include: OH&S frameworks; workplace environment; roles and responsibilities in the management of OH&S; and OH&S processes (i.e. from identification of hazards to treatment and reporting).

Objectives

Develop a set of objectives. Objectives may include: use of qualified OH&S staff when necessary; providing information, training and supervision to employees and contractors to ensure their safety; ensuring that, as a minimum, all operations comply with relevant OH&S legislation; ensuring that only safe equipment is used in all operations; planning for continuous improvement in any safety management systems; providing support and assistance to injured employees and contractors; and any intra project OH&S.

Obligations
1. Obligations

Define the statutory and contractual obligations to which the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) must adhere.

Policies

Outline the OH&S policies that will be used by the SPV.

Workplace Health and Safety
Rehabilitation Policy
Drug and Alcohol Policy

Duties and responsibilities

Provide details on the roles and responsibilities of employees and contractors for management of OH&S issues. This may also include employees and/or contractors that have been hired/engaged to conduct inspections.

Communication resources

Outline how information regarding OH&S issues will be communicated. This may include: project management meetings; inductions; training; and outcomes from inspections.

Reporting

Outline how OH&S issues and incidents will be reported. This may include incident reports and project safety reports.

Rules for Safety

Outline the rules relating to workplace safety

Behaviour
First aid
Maintenance
Layout
Storage areas
Manual handling
Use of workplace equipment
Evacuation procedures
Fire alarm response
Security

Appendix C

INCIDENT / INJURY REPORT FORM

Please print clearly and tick the correct box

^Status:

Employee

Contractor

Other ^Outcome:

Near miss

Injury

1. DETAILS OF INJURED PERSON

Name: ___________________________________________ Phone: (H) (W) Address: ________________________________________________ Sex: M F

_______________________________________________________ Date of birth:________________________ _______________________________________________________ Position: ___________________________ Experience in the job: _____________________________________ (years/months) Start time: _______________________________________________

pm ^{Work arrangement:}

Casual

Full-time

Part-time

Other

2. DETAILS OF INCIDENT

Date: ______________________ Time: ______________________________ Location: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Describe what happened and how: _______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________

3. DETAILS OF WITNESSES

Name: _________________________________________________ Phone: (H)____________ (W) __________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. DETAILS OF INJURY

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Nature of injury (eg burn, cut, sprain) _____________________________________________________________ Cause of injury (eg fall, grabbed by person) ________________________________________________________ Location on body (eg back, left forearm) __________________________________________________________ Agency (eg lounge chair, another person, hot water) _________________________________________________

5. TREATMENT ADMINISTERED

First Aid given

Yes

No First Aider name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Treatment: __________________________________________________________________________________ Referred to: _________________________________________________________________________________

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6. DID THE INJURED PERSON STOP WORK ?
Yes No If yes, state date: ________________________ Time: __________________ Outcome: Treated by doctor Hospitalised Workers compensation claim Returned to normal work Alternative duties Rehabilitation
7. INCIDENT INVESTIGATION (comments to include causal factors):
____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________
8. RISK ASSESSMENT
Likelihood of recurrence: _______________________________________________________________________ Severity of outcome: __________________________________________________________________________ Level of risk: _________________________________________________________________________________
9. ACTIONS TO PREVENT RECURRENCE
Action	By whom	By when	Date completed

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10. ACTIONS COMPLETED
Signed (Manager): ________________________________________________ Title: Date: _______________________ Feedback to person involved Date:____________________
11. REVIEW COMMENTS
OHS committee / staff meeting: _________________________________________________________________ Reviewed by site Manager (signed): __________________________________ Date: ____________________ Reviewed by Health & Safety Rep.(signed): ____________________________ Date: ______________________

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	Application- Read the instructions and make yourself familiar with HOW TO USE IT. Don’t leave it until you have a fire! Pull out the safety pin- then squeeze the lever For solids, aim the jet at the base of the flames and move it over the area of the fire. For liquids, don’t aim the foam straight at the fire, which can spread the fire onto the surrounding area, rather aim it at a vertical surface. If the fire is in a container, direct the foam at the inside edge of the container, which allows the foam to build up and flow across the surface of the liquid to smother the fire.
	Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers
	Application- Read the instructions and make yourself familiar with HOW TO USE IT. Don’t leave it until you have a fire! Squeeze grip operation Aim the jet at the base of the flames and quickly sweep it from side to side. On fires in containers or spilled liquid, aim the jet or horn
	towards the near side of the fire and with a fast sweeping motion, propel the fire towards the far edge until the flames are extinguished. If flowing liquid is on fire, direct the spray at the base of the flames then upwards. On electrical fires, switch off the current, then aim the jet directly at the fire. As soon as the fire appears to be extinguished, wait until the air clears, then if flame is still visible discharge again.
	CO2 Fire Extinguishers
	CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) Extinguishers Class B-ColourBlack are suitable for risks involving flammable liquids and electrical fires. Action Follow the instructions as for dry powder. CO2 extinguishers should never be used in confined spaces due to the danger of the fumes being inhaled. Do not hold the horn as it becomes very cold when in use.