Emergency Action Plans

The community HAZMAT emergency response plan can be a valuable source of information in developing site-specific emergency response plans and emergency action plans as required by HAZWOPER. 

This applies particularly to the need for coordination by DOE sites with off-site response personnel and agencies (e.g., mutual aid agreements and public alert mechanisms). EPA has provided guidance to communities and fire departments for identifying, acquiring, and maintaining HAZMAT response equipment and trained personnel appropriate for their locale. 

The HAZWOPER standard requires employers to determine the potential for an emergency and develop response procedures accordingly. 

There are various methods for identifying and evaluating such hazards, each requiring different levels of resources and expertise [2]. 

training your personnel when to walk away becomes very important. And what they do when they walk away also becomes very important. Even the direction workers are expected to take can be important. The training performed and documentation of this training are also important. 

Employers with fewer than ten employees need not maintain a written plan, but they must communicate to each employee responsibilities in the event of an emergency. 

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Employers, at a minimum, must have an emergency action plan that will facilitate the prompt evacuation of employees when there is an unwanted release of a highly hazardous chemical. This means that the employer s plan will be activated by an alarm system to alert employees when to evacuate, and that employees who are physically impaired will have the necessary support and assistance to get them to a safe zone. The intent of these requirements is to alert and move employees quickly to a safe zone. The use of process control centers or buildings as safe areas is discouraged. Recent catastrophes indicate that lives are lost in these structures because of their location and because they are not necessarily designed to withstand over-pressures from shock waves resulting from explosions in the process area. 

Wlien there are unwanted incidental releases of highly hazardous chemicals in the process area, the employer must inform employees of the actions/procedures to take. If the employer wants employees to evacuate the area, then the emergency action plan will be activated. Eor outdoor processes, where wind direction is important for selecting the safe route to a refuge area, the employers should place a wind direction indicator, such as a wind sock or pennant, at the highest point visible... 

An emergency action plan is established and implemented for the entire plant in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and may be subject to the hazardous waste and emergency response provisions contained in 29 CFR 1910.120 (a), (p) and (q). 

The emergency action plan facilitates prompt evacuation of employees. Upon an alarm pcrsoimel evacuate to safe areas, cross or up wind if possible, assisting physically impaired people as necessary. Process buildings are not suitable refuges. 

An Emergency Action Plan should be established, assigning an emergency control center and appropriate personnel for emergency response. Drills should be carried out to assure all personnel are familiar with these plans. 

Preparedness for first-aid treatment of anaphylaxis in the community involves not only a prescription for epinephrine autoinjectors, but also an Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan, appropriate medical identification, and anaphylaxis education. 

Epinephrine autoinjectors should be prescribed in the context of a written Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan that is developed with the input of the person at risk for anaphylaxis, or the caregiver(s) of the child at risk [45]. The Plan should remind the person at risk about the common symptoms and signs of anaphylaxis, stress the importance of prompt epinephrine injection, and clearly state that Hj-antihistamines... 

Sicherer SH, Simons FER Quandaries in prescribing an emergency action plan and self-injectable epinephrine for first-aid management of anaphylaxis in the community J Allergy Chn Immunol 2005 115 575-583. 

A written safety program that includes the following topics new employee safety orientation, safety training, hazard communication, emergency action plan, fall protection, scaffolding, heat stress, personal protective equipment, electrical, first aid, and bloodborne pathogens. 

Emergency Action Plan A written statement covering the actions employers and employees must take to insure employee safety from fire and other emergencies. 

When the plant was built, over 20 years before the accident, there were very few people near it. At the time of the accident, a shanty town had grown up near the plant with a density of 100 people per acre, greatly increasing the potential exposure of people to toxic releases. There was no emergency action plan to notify neighbors of the potential for toxic releases or of what to do if there was a release, nor was there a functioning alarm system. 

TRAININC, DRILLS, AND EVALUATION Emergency response most be documented and records retained review Evacuation drill Initial and annual refresher training for employees involved in emergency response varies with roles-All employees trained in Emergency Action Plan Initially and with every chunge to plan. Training In MSDS Information ... 

To achieve a yes score the CER should outline the general approach to ensuring the involvement of local statutory authorities in emergency action planning. If this general approach is absent it is considered acceptable to cite examples drawn from each geographical area however, if not all areas are featured a no score will be given. 

Emergency preparedness although safety training is discussed, the CER does not mention any strategy for ensuring local involvement in emergency action planning. 

Emergency preparedness although there is reference to a number of community advisory panels, there is no overall impression of a group-wide approach to involving local statutory authorities in emergency action planning. 

Emergency preparedness there is good evidence of on-site plans and procedures, and routine (annual) training, although no mention is made of any involvement with local statutory authorities in emergency action planning. 

Emergency preparedness the CER does not discuss any group-wide strategy for involving local communities in emergency action planning. 

Emergency action plans are especially necessary in laboratories. Plans should be prepared for response to situations such as fire, explosions, flooding, severe weather (tornadoes, hurricanes), earthquakes, medical emergencies, violent acts or threats of violence (e.g., bombs), and release of hazardous materials. Accidents at nearby locations such as adjacent laboratories and transportation facilities may affect the laboratory worker. According to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, the minimum elements of an emergency action plan include ... 

CFR1910.38(a)(5)(l) 4.2.9.3 Before implementing the emergency action plan, the employer shall designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of employees. 

CFR1910.119(h)(3)(ii) 4.S.4.2 assure that each contract employee is instructed in the known potential fire, explosion, or toxic release hazards related to his/her job and the process, and the applieable provisions of the emergency action plan, and... 

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