12 Emergencies It is doubtful whether any industry can do away with emergency planning. Wherever there are workers there is always potential for human emergencies such as injury, illness, death, violence, and medical emergencies. The weather and environment can also cause natural emergencies such as storms, floods, earthquakes, and tornados. Man-made emergencies, such as fire, explosion, or chemical spills, cannot be over- looked either. The key is to be the best possi bly prepared to react to any emergency. This requires a number of issues to be addressed. 12.1 IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDS When looking at what hazards exist in a workplace, it is imperative that a worst-case scenario approach be employed. It is virtually impossible to address each possible hazard, but each industry has areas where it is most vulnerable or most at risk of an unplanned emergency. A risk assessment will allow prioritizing the potential risk. At this point an action plan can be developed to address the hazards that have been Bell Fire alarm box with pull handle Local emergency number Telephone Fire Alarm Responses to emergencies should be planned in advance and alarms and warning devices in place. (Courtesy of the Department of Energy.) ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. identified. Some of the common hazards that might be identified as having an impact on the workplace are as follows: . Fire . Explosion . Natural gas leak . Chemical spill . Release of radioactive materials . Airborne chemical or biological releases . Power outage . Loss of communications . Water leak . Flooding . Earthquakes . Winter storms . Windstorms . Hurricanes . Tornados . Security issues . Bomb threat . Suspicious letter or package . Civil strife . War . Sabotage . Labor strike . Accidents (injuries, illnesses, and deaths) . Mechanical failure . Transportation incidents (truck, rail, or air) . Workplace violence The best way is to prepare to respond to an emergency before it happens. Few people can think clearly and logically in a crisis, so it is important to do this in advance, when you have time to be thorough. 12.2 EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS An emergency action plan (EAP) covers designated actions employers and employees must take to ensure employee safety from fire and other emergencies. Not all employers are required to establish an EAP. If an employer has less than 10 employees, the plan can be comm unicated orally. If, on the other hand, an employer has more than 10 employees, the plan must be written, kept in the workplace, and available for employee review. It would be unusual for retai l, wholesal e, or warehousing sectors to not have to comply with portable fire extinguisher regulations (1910.157) or use a fixed fire suppression system. If an employer is regulated as above then the employer would ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. need to develop an EAP. Figure 12.1 provides a decis ion chart for determining if an employer needs an EAP. When developing your EAP, it is a good idea to look at a wide variety of potential emergencies that could occur in your workplace. It should be tailored to your worksite and include information about all potential sources of emergencies. Developing an EAP means you should do a hazard assessment to determine what, if any, physical or chemical hazards in your workplaces could cause an emergency. If you have more than one worksite, each site shoul d have an EAP. 12.2.1 ELEMENTS OF AN EAP At a minimum, your EAP must include the following: . A preferred method for reporting fires and other emergencies . An evacuation policy and procedure including type of evacuat ion and exit route assignment . Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation . Emergency escape procedures and route assignments, such as floor plans, workplace maps, and safe or refuge areas Do you need an EAP under 1910.38(a)? Standards that refer to 1910.38(a) Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and additional emergency planning procedures Are you required to comply with 1910.157 portable fire extinguishers? If all of your employees evacuate during a fire emergency Develop an EAP and a Fire Prevention Plan under 1910.38(b), plus you may have to comply with 1910.157(e) and (f) Develop an EAP and comply with 1910.157 (c), (e), (f), (g)(3) and (g)(4) Develop an EAP and address the delay in it Develop an EAP Develop an EAP Develop an EAP Develop an EAP and include procedures for handling small releases, plus you may be subject to 1910.120(a), (p) and (q) Develop an EAP If some employees fight fires, but others evacuate during a fire emergency If you have a total flooding system where the extinguishing agent’s concentrations exceed levels discussed in 1910.162(b)(5) and (b)(6) If the alarms or devices initiated by fire detector actuation are delayed >30 s If all employees evacuate and none provide emergency response Do you use a fixed fire suppression system? Are you required to comply with 1910.119 process safety management for highly hazardous chemicals? Are you required to comply with 1910.1047 ethylene oxide, 1910.1050 methylenedianiline, or 1910.1051 1,3-butadiene? Are you required to comply with 1910.120 hazardous waste operations and emergency response Paragraphs (1). (p)(8), or (q)? Are you required to comply with 1910.272 grain handling facilities? FIGURE 12.1 Decision chart for determining the need for an EAP. (Courtesy of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.) ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. . Names, titles, departments, and telephone numbers 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, operate fire extinguishers, or perform other essent ial services that cannot be shut down for every emergency alarm before evacuating . Alarm system to alert workers . Rescue and medical duties for any workers designated to perform them In addition, although they are not specifically required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), you may find it helpful to include in your plan the following: . Designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees, including those who have handicaps . The site of an alternative communications center to be used in the event of a fire or explosion . A secure on- or offsite locat ion to store originals or duplicate copies of accounting records, legal documents, your employees’ emergency contact lists, and other essential records The EAP needs to be reviewed with each employee trained on it when the plan is developed and when an employee is assigned initially to a job, plan is changed, or employees have specific responsibilities under the plan. 12.3 ALARM SYSTEM Your plan must include a way to alert employees, including disabled workers, to evacuate or take alternative action, and how to report emergencies, as required. Among the steps you must take are the following: . Make sure alarms are distinctive and recognized by all employees as a signal to evacuate the work area or perform actions identified in your p lan. . Make available an emergency communications system such as a public address system, portable radio unit, or other means to notify employees of the emergency and to contact local law enforcement, the fire department, and others. . Stipulate that alarms must be audible, seen, or otherwise perceived by everyone in the workplace. It might be good to consider providing an auxiliary power supply in the event of a power breakdown. (29 CFR 1910.165(b)(2) offers more information on alarms.) The following may also be considered, although it is not specifically required by OSHA: ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. . Using tactile devices to alert employees who would not otherwise be able to recognize an audible or visual alarm (Figure 12.2) . Providing an updated list of key personnel such as the manager or phys- ician, in order of priority, to notify in the event of an emergency during off- duty hours 12.4 EVACUATION PLAN AND POLICY A disorganized evacuation can result in confusion, injury, and proper ty damage. That is why when developing your EAP it is important to determine the following: . Conditions under which an evacuation would be necessary. . A clear chain of command and designation of the person in your business authorized to order an evacuation or shutdown. You may want to designate an ‘‘evacuation warden’’ to assist others in an evacuation and to account for personnel. . Specific evacuation procedures, including routes and exits. Post these procedures where they are easily accessible to all employees. . Procedures for assisting people with disabilities or who do not speak English. . Designation of what, if any, employees will continue or shut down critical operations during an evacuation. These people must be capable of recog- nizing when to abandon the operation and evacuate themselves. . A system for accounting for personnel following an evacuation. Consider employees’ transportation needs for community-wide evacuations. FIGURE 12.2 Both an audible and visual alarm. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. In the event of an emergency, local emergency officials may order you to evacuate your premises. In some cases, they may instruct you to shut off the water, gas, and electricity. If you have access to radio or television, listen to newscasts to keep informed and follow whatever official orders you receive. In other cases, a designated person within your business should be responsible for making the decision to evacuate or shut down operations. Protecting the health and safety of everyone in the facility should be the first priority. In the event of a fire, an immediate evacuation to a predetermined area away from the facility is the best way to protect employees. On the other hand, evacuating employees may not be the best response to an emergency such as a toxic gas release at a facility across town from your business. 12.5 EMERGENCY RESPONSIBILITY When drafting your EAP, you may wish to select a responsible individual to lead and coordinate the emergency plan and evacuation. It is critical that employees know who the coordinator is and understand that person has the authority to make decisions during emergencies. The coordinator should be responsible for the following: . Assessing the situation to determine whether an emergency is present that requires activation of your emergency procedures . Supervising all efforts in the area, including evacuating personnel . Coordinating outside emergency services, such as medical aid and local fire departments, and ensuring that they are available and notified when necessary . Directing the shutdown of work operations when required It may also be beneficial to coordinate the action plan with other employers when several employers share the worksite, although OSHA standards do not specifically require this. In addition to a coordinator, it could be a good idea to designate evacuation wardens to help move employees from danger to safe areas during an emergency. Generally, 1 warden for every 20 employees should be adequate, and the appropriate number of wardens should be available at all times during working hours. Employees designated to assist in emergency evacuation procedures should be trained in the complete workplace layout and various alternative escape routes. All employees and those designated to assist in emergencies should be made aware of employees with special needs who may require extra assistance, how to use the buddy system, and hazardous areas to avoid during an emergency evacuation. 12.6 EXIT ROUTES Usually, a workplace must have at least two exit routes for prompt evacuation. But more than two exits are required if the number of employees, size of the building, or arrange ment of the workplace will not allow a safe evacuation. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Exit routes must be located as far away as practical from each other in case one is blocked by fire or smoke. 12.6.1 REQUIREMENTS FOR EXITS Exits must be separated form the workplace by fire-resistant materials—that is, 1 h fire-resistance rating if the exit connects three or fewer stories, and a 2 h fire- resistance rating if the exit connects more than three stories. Exits can have only those openings necessary to allow access to the exit from occupied areas of the workplace or to the exit discharge. Openings must be protected by a self-closing, approved fire door that remains closed or automatically closes in an emergency. Maintain a line-of-sight to exit signs clearly visible always and install ‘‘Exit’’ signs using plainly legible letters (Figure 12.3). 12.6.2 SAFETY FEATURES FOR EXIT ROUTES The safety features exit routes are as follows: . Keep exit routes free of explosives or highly flammable furnishings and other decorations. . Arrange exit routes so employees will not have to travel toward high-hazard areas unless the path of travel is effectively shield ed from the high- hazard area. . Ensure the exit routes are free and unobstructed by materials, equipment, locked doors, or dead-end corridors. . Provide adequate lighting for exit routes for employees with normal vision. FIGURE 12.3 A properly labeled exit. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. . Keep exit route doors free of decorations or signs that obscur e the visi bility of exit doo rs. . Post signs along the exit access indicati ng the direc tion of travel to the neares t exit and exit discharge if that direc tion is not immedi ately apparen t. . Mark doors and passag es along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit ‘‘Not an exit ’’ o r with a sign identifyi ng its use such as ‘‘ Closet. ’’ . Renew fi re-retarda nt paint s or solution when needed. . Maintain ex it routes during const ruction, repai rs, or alterations. 12.6.3 DESIGN AND C ONSTRUCTION OF E XITS The requireme nts for design and const ruction of exit s are as follows: . Exit route s must be perm anent parts of the workplace . . Exit discharges must lead directly outside or to a street, wal kway, refuge area, publi c way, or open space with access to the outsid e. . Exit d ischarge areas must be large enough to accom modate people like ly to use the exit route . . Exit route doors must unlock from the insi de. The y must be free of devices or alarm s that c ould rest rict use of the exit route if the device or alarm fails. . Exit route s can be connecte d to room s only by side-h inged doors, which must swing out in the direc tion of trave l if the room may be occupied by more than 50 people . . Exit route s must suppor t the maxi mum perm itted occupant load for each floor served , and the cap acity o f an exit route may not decreas e in the direction of exit route travel to the exit discharge. . An exit access must have ceilings at least 7 ft 6 in. high. . An exit access must be at least 28 in. wide at all p oints. Objects that project into the exit must no t reduce its width (Figur e 12.4). 12.7 ACCOUNTING FOR EVACUEES Accounting for all employees following an evacuation is critical. Confusion in the assembly areas can lead to delays in rescuing anyone trapped in the building, or unnecessary and dangerous search-and-rescue operations. To ensure the fastest, most accurate accountability of your employees, you may want to consider including the following steps in your EAP: . Designate assembly areas where employees should gather after evacuation. . Take a head count after the evacuation. Identify the names and last known locations of anyone not accounted for and pass them to the of ficial in charge. . Establish a method for accounting for non-employees such as suppliers and customers. . Establish procedures for further evacuation in case the incident expands. This may consist of sending employees home by normal means or providing them with transportation to an offsite location. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. 12.8 RESCUE OPERATIONS It takes more than just willing hands to save lives. Untrained individuals may endanger themselves and those they are trying to rescue. For this reason, it is generally wise to leave rescue work to those who are trained, equipped, and certified to conduct rescues. 12.9 MEDICAL CARE IN EMERGENCIES If your company does not have a formal medical program, investigate ways to provide medical and first-aid services. If medical facilities are available near your worksite, make arrangements for them to handle emergency cases. Provide your employees with a written emergency medical procedu re to minimize confusion during an emergency. If an infirmary, clinic, or hospital is not in close proximity to the workplace, ensure that onsite person s have adequate training in first aid. The American Red Cross, some insurance providers, local safety councils, fire departments, or other resources may be able to provide this training. Treatment of a serious injury should begin within 3–4 min of the accident. Consult with a physician to order appropriate first-aid supplies for emergencies. Medical personnel must be access ible to provide advice and consultation in resolving health problems that occur in the workplace. Establish a relationship with a local ambulance service so transportation is readily available for emergencies. FIGURE 12.4 A well-designed emergency exit. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. 12.10 TRAINING EMPLOYEES Educate 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 a vailability of onsite or outside resources will determine your training requirements. Be sure all employees understand the function and elements of your EAP, 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 chem- icals, radioactive sources, or water-rea ctive substances. Clearly communicate to employees who will be in charge during an emergency to minimize confusion. Generally, training for employees should 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 Also, training employees in first-aid procedures, including protection against bloodborne pathogens, respiratory protection, including use of an escape-only respir- ator, and methods for preventing unauthorized access to the site might be appropriate. Once the EAP has been reviewed with 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. Include outside resources such as fire and police departments when possible. After each drill, gather management and employees to evaluate the effectiveness of the drill. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your plan and work to improve it. Review your plan with all 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. 12.11 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES No matter what kind of business exists, the potentiality for an emergency involving hazardous materials such as flammable, explosive, toxic, noxious, corrosive, bio- logical, oxidizable, or radioactive substances is always a possibility. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. [...]... precautions when handling, storing, or using the substance, and outline emergency and first-aid procedures 12. 12 EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT Employees may need personal protective equipment (PPE) to evacuate during an emergency PPE must be based on the potential hazards in the workplace Assess your workplace to determine potential hazards and the appropriate controls and protective equipment for those hazards... devices necessary for hazards unique to your worksite Consult with a health and safety professional or an industrial hygienist before making any purchases Respirators selected should be appropriate to the hazards in your workplace, meet OSHA standards criteria, and be certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Respiratory protection may be necessary if your employees must... the following: Safety glasses, goggles, or face shields for eye protection Hard hats and safety shoes for head and foot protection Proper respirators Chemical suits, gloves, hoods, and boots for body protection from chemicals Special body protection for abnormal environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures Any other special equipment or warning devices necessary for hazards unique to... through oxygen-deficient areas while evacuating 12. 13 SUMMARY Emergencies are always a possibility Reacting late to an emergency can be disastrous and be detrimental to any employer’s business The preplanning can actually save a business by decreasing liability and preventing the harm that can occur to the workforce and the workplace itself Employers should undertake emergency planning seriously and as a... these events could have a direct impact on your employees and your business and should be addressed by your EAP If hazardous substances are used or stored at the worksite, there may be an increased risk of an emergency involving hazardous materials, and this possibility should be addressed in your EAP OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910 .120 0) requires employers who use hazardous chemicals... inventory, display the relevant manufacturer-supplied material safety data sheets (MSDSs) in a place accessible to workers, label chemical containers with their hazards, and train employees in ways to protect themselves against those hazards A good way to start is to determine from your hazardous chemical inventory what hazardous chemicals you use and to gather the MSDSs for the chemicals MSDSs describe the . recog- nizing when to abandon the operation and evacuate themselves. . A system for accounting for personnel following an evacuation. Consider employees’ transportation needs for community-wide. smoke. 12. 6.1 REQUIREMENTS FOR EXITS Exits must be separated form the workplace by fire-resistant materials that is, 1 h fire-resistance rating if the exit connects three or fewer stories, and a. Identify the names and last known locations of anyone not accounted for and pass them to the of ficial in charge. . Establish a method for accounting for non-employees such as suppliers and customers. . Establish