8. Emergency preparedness

No matter how effective the controls are that you put in place, accidents do happen, and you should be prepared and know what to do during an incident or emergency.

The most effective way of evaluating your company’s emergency procedures is to frequently and at least annually conduct emergency drills including evacuation of the premises.  

These drills should involve the local authority emergency services in order for them to familiarise themselves with the company’s emergency equipment.  During such emergency drills the company fire teams should be involved in realistic fire drills. 

For the purpose of this course, we are going to discuss the following four different types of emergencies, namely:  

• Fire.  

• Accidental spillage.  

• When a person is injured.  

• When a person accidentally comes into contact with a hazardous agent.  

All facilities which have a significant risk from hazardous agents shall provide an emergency response plan which includes:  

• Means of escape in an emergency situation.  

• Emergency response teams appropriate to the risk.  

• Appropriate safe refuge and assembly areas for people.  

• Emergency response equipment for spillage containment, fires, explosions, burns, etc.  

• Appropriate response arrangements with external medical providers e.g. ambulance, hospitals, fire brigade etc.  

• Emergency response procedures appropriate to the hazardous materials and the risk.  

• Recovery procedure and disposal of hazardous material.  

Emergency response plans for hazardous materials incidents should be in place and reviewed, tested, and documented annually.  This should include external support services such as local ambulances and hospitals as appropriate to the risk.  

Ideally there should be specific emergency plans in place for your own workplace, indicating for example exactly who should be contacted in the event of emergencies, exactly where you should assemble in the event of an evacuation, etc.

The following are considered to be dangerous goods incidents:  

• Undeclared dangerous goods.  

• Injury to persons.  

• Damage to property.  

• Fire.  

• Spillage, breakage, leakage of fluid or radiation.  

• Evidence that the integrity of the packaging has not been maintained.

The majority of incidents could be due to the following reasons:  

• Undeclared goods.  

• The non-identification of dangerous goods.  

• No compatibility checks are made which result in incompatible freight being loaded onto pallets and vehicles.  

• Untrained staff and the absence of qualified personnel.  

• The use of inferior and or inadequate packaging.  

• The absence of labelling on parcels.  

• The absence of documentation such as Tremcards and declaration of dangerous goods.

In the event of a fire, do the following:  

• Report the fire.  

• Evacuate the area.  

• Fight small fires.  

• Keep access routes open.  

• Direct the fire brigade to the scene.  

• Provide the fire brigade with a list of chemicals in use.  

• Warn neighbours, if necessary.

In the event of an accidental spillage or leak, you should:  

• Isolate the area where the concentrated product has spilled or leaked.  

• Identify the product, required protective clothing and the best method for cleaning up the spill or leak (label or SDS).  

• Put on protective clothing. If the product is not known full protective clothing must be worn.  Breathing apparatus must be worn in the case of a liquid spill in a confined space.  

• Prevent any liquids from entering any drains or water courses. Leaking containers must be removed to areas designated to accommodate leaking vessels and positioned to stop leaking.  Overpacks must be provided for drums.  Small containers must be placed in plastic bags (ensure that the product will not react with the plastic bag).  

• Spilled material must be absorbed in the appropriate medium (sand, dry earth, hydrated lime, not saw duct) and placed in a waste drum.  

• Spilled solids will be cleaned by means of a dedicated vacuum cleaner or broom (care should be taken to avoid the evolution of dust). Toxic solids will first be covered with sand and then collected into appropriate vessels and disposed of.  After cleaning the solids, the contaminated area shall be wetted, and water absorbed using the appropriate medium to be disposed of as above.  

• After the cleanup, decontaminate or appropriately dispose of all protective clothing and other equipment used in the cleanup.  

• Waste receptacles shall be appropriately labelled for disposal.

In the event of an injury:   

• Call for help.  

• Rescue the injured person if possible.  

• Administer first aid.  

• Direct ambulance to injured person.

In the event of accidental contact with a hazardous chemical:  

• Remove person from danger.  

• Wash skin or eyes well.  

• Remove contaminated clothing.  

• If chemical was inhaled, move to fresh air.  

• If chemical was ingested, do not induce vomiting.  

• Call a doctor as soon as possible.

To control exposure, you may need to provide information, instruction, learning and supervision to persons to ensure the absence of risk to their health and safety.  The precautions you take need to match the risk and will depend on the agent, the quantities involved and the way in which it is used.  

Various control measures should be implemented by your organisation depending on the type of chemicals, quantities, and the area in which the chemicals are used.  Ensure that you are up to date with the internal requirements of your organisation.