Procedures.
Even if control measures have been put in place, a leak, spill or uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance may still occur. Emergency procedures should be established, and used, if appropriate, to enable the source of a release to be safely identified and repairs to be made. All persons not directly concerned with the emergency should be excluded from the area of contamination.
Preparing an Emergency Response Plan.
The emergency response plan should be prepared in consultation with the workers at the workplace and emergency service agencies where appropriate.
The issues which should be addressed in an emergency plan include the following:
- on-site first aid or assistance which has to be administered in case of an accident due to over exposure to a hazardous substance;
- details of the building(s) on the site;
- the types of risks taken into account;
- emergency organisations and any mutual assistance resources involved including key personnel and responsibilities and liaison arrangements between them;
- emergency command structure and communications links including telephones, radios and standby methods;
- special equipment including fire fighting materials, spillage kit, damage control and repair items;
- the limits of on-site action prior to the seeking of outside assistance;
- technical information such as chemical and physical characteristics and dangers of every hazardous substance and plant;
- locations of the hazardous substances, personnel, equipment and emergency control rooms at the workplace; and
- evacuation arrangements.
Review of Emergency Response Plan.
It is good practice to review an emergency response plan when:
- any hazardous substance is introduced to the workplace in a quantity which causes alteration to the placarding requirements11;
- a change is made in the way a hazardous substance is stored, handled or used;
- a change is made to a process or procedure which may result in a change of risk; and
- new information becomes available concerning any property of a hazardous substance which could lead to a significant risk.
Emergency Service Agencies.
Emergency service agencies should be provided with information on the hazardous substances present at the workplace as well as other relevant information such as the hazardous substances register and emergency response plan. However, it is not appropriate or necessary for emergency services to have access to monitoring or health surveillance results.
