Preparing for Workplace Emergencies

Richard MendelsonArea DirectorManhattan Area OfficeOccupational Safety and Health Administration

SENY PDC – April 2006

Planning for emergencies

Conduct a comprehensive assessment

Consider accidents, fires, medical emergencies, chemicals, severe weather, transportation, utilities, deliberate acts

Most likely scenarios

Worst-case scenarios

Minimum elements of an Emergency Action Plan

Preferred method of reporting Evacuation policy & procedure Emergency escape procedures and route

assignments List of contacts with telephone numbers

– Inside & outside facility Procedures for employees that remain for:

– Shutdown of critical operations– Fire suppression

Other EAP elements

Rescue duties & medical care Assembly area & employee accountability Coordinator

– Size-up emergency– Oversee operations– Coordinate with emergency responders– Direct orderly shutdown of operations

Employee training

Roles & responsibilities Threats, hazards, and protective actions Notification, warning, and communication Proper response Train employees:

– Initially– New hires– Changes to process, facility, or plan

Important considerations

Evacuation routes– Alternatives

Muster point– Alternatives

Accountability Handicapped individuals Visitors and contractors Coordination with other tenants Practice drills

Contingency plans

Continuity of operations (COOP) Who’s in charge? Employee rosters (current? available offsite?) Staff morale Temporary space Resumption of operations (critical, other) Telecommunication & information technology Administrative functions & files Permanent relocation

Continuum of response

Host site employees– Emergency Action Plan

Evacuation / Shelter-in-Place

Public safety responders Skilled support personnel Continuity of operations

National Incident Management System &National Response PlanNational Incident Management System &National Response PlanNIMS• Aligns command, control,

organization structure, terminology, communication protocols, & resources/resource-typing

• Used for all events

Abilities

Resources

LocalResponse

StateResponse or Support

FederalResponse or Support

Incident

LocalResponse

StateResponse or Support

FederalResponse or Support

Incident

NRP• Integrates & applies Federal

resources, knowledge, & abilities before, during, & after an incident

• Activated only forIncidents of National Significance

Knowledge

Insular Affairs

Cyber Response

Terrorism Response

Biological Response

Nuclear/Radiological Response

Logistics

ESF #10 – Hazardous Materials

ESF # 9 – Urban Search and Rescue

ESF #8 – Public Health & Medical Services

Science and Technology

NRP Changes and Updates

ESF #7 –Resource Support

ESF #15 – Emergency Public Info

ESF #6 – Mass Care, Housing and Human

Services

ESF #5 – Emergency Management

ESF #4 - Firefighting

ESF #3 – Public Works and Engineering

ESF #2 – Telecommunications

ESF #1 - Transportation

ESF #14 –Community Recovery,

Mitigation, and Economic Stabilization

ESF #13 –Public Safety and Security

ESF #12 - Energy

ESF #11 –Agriculture and Natural Resources

Private Sector Coordination

Financial Management

Worker Safety and Health

Support Annexes

Emergency Support Function

Annexes

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Terms and Definitions

Appendices

BASE PLANJFO, PFO, IIMG,

HSOC

NRP Structure

Hazardous Materials Response

Catastrophic Incident Response

Incident Annexes

Volunteer Coordination

InternationalCoordination

Public Affairs

Tribal Relations

Safety for responders

“Responders” includes more than formal emergency services– Skilled support personnel, contractors, utilities, public

works, transportation

Safety for responders

Incident management Preplanning Training Incident Command System (ICS) implementation

– Unified command

Incident Safety Officer Risk management

– Realistic estimate of risk vs. benefit– Hierarchy of controls

Safety for responders

Incident management, cont’d Personnel accountability, span of control Identification of hazards and implementation of

controls Establish perimeter, operational zones, access

control Management of mutual-aid and volunteers

Safety & health represented in planning cycle– Incident Action Plan (IAP) should include safety

components Medical, rehabilitation, evacuation, accountability

Safety & health concerns may be inadvertently overlooked– Competing priorities, limited experience with certain

hazards

Safety for responders

OSHA activities

Focus on risk management WTC critique OSHA – FEMA Summit First Receivers document Disaster Site Worker training (#5600 & #7600) Internal preparedness

– Planning, training, equipment– Drills and exercises– Specialty Response Teams

Applicable standards

Revised Exit Routes standards– 29 CFR 1910 Subpart E (November 2002)

Recognizes Life Safety Code (NFPA 101-2000) CPL 02-01-037 – Compliance Policy for Emergency Action

Plans and Fire Prevention Plans (July 2002)

Hazardous Waste and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) – 29 CFR 1910.120

Portable Fire Extinguishers – 29 CFR 1910.157

References

E-tools– Evacuation plans & procedures– ICS / UC– Anthrax

Fire Safety Expert Advisor http:/www.osha.gov/