EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURE

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURE

EMERGENCY: A serious situation which needs immediate action or response is called Emergency.

EMERGENCY PLAN: Emergency plan consists of 4 parts:-

i.                    Evacuation

ii.                  Sheltering

iii.                Reporting

iv.                Response 

i.                    EVACUATION:

·         Have a warning system that can be heard by all, a fire alarm or a public address system.

·         Display written evacuation procedures for all to see.

·         Familiarize he employees with evacuation signal sound through drills.

·         Work out procedures for shutting down equipment when the alarm is sounded.

·         Designate suitably wide emergency exits which should be clearly marked and well lit.

·         Earmark an assembly area for the evacuees to gather.

·         Establish a head count system for employees at the assembly area.

·         Hold a roll call after evacuation.

·         Establish procedures for sending evacuees to shelter or their homes if emergency expands.

·         Devise methods for assisting people with disabilities.

·         Sound all clear alarm when the emergency is over.

ii.                  REPORTING OF EMERGENCY:

Provide the following information to control office on emergency phone number or to the nearest office:-

·           Location of incident

·           Type of emergency

·           Number of persons

·           Your name and site number

·           Get permission prior to disconnecting your call

FIRST AID: After an emergency situation, emergency services (fire, police and medical) may be disrupted or unavailable for some time. It is important to have a complete first aid kit and first aid and training.

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE IS INJURED

RESCUE

·         Is it safe to give help?

·         If your need to shift the victim to a safe area (first aid post or hospital), do it.

BREATHING

·         Observe breathing of the victim if normal leave it.

·         Open airway by tilting victim’s head backward.

·         Otherwise restore the breathing by mouth to mouth resuscitation method, if you can.

·         Place him in a comfortable position.

·         Get medical help.

·         Monitor his/her vital signs.

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)

CPR means reviving a patient from apparent death or unconsciousness.      

·         CPR involves at least 5 cm deep chest pushes 30 times per minute.

·         The rescuer may provide artificial respiration by mouth to mouth resuscitation.

       If CPR is unlikely to restart the heart, a ‘defibrillation’ electric shock may be needed.

BLEEDING

·         Apply pressure directly over the wound with a clean cloth or your hand.    

·         Elevate the injured part unless a fracture is suspected.

·         If bleeding cannot be controlled or internal bleeding suspected, get medical help.

      Treat for shock.

SYMPTOMS OF FIRST AID

·         Determine potential for internal bleeding

·         Pale, cool, clammy skin , increased/week pulse rate

·         Restless, thirsty or nauseated

·         Let victim lie down with feet elevated and keep warm

·         In extreme cases, unconsciousness

FRACTURE

·         Look for swelling, immobility, deformity, twisting              

·         Do not move the victim

·         Use splints to keep broken bones ends together

·         Move the victim to hospital

SHOCK

Shock is a life threatening condition that occurs when the vital organs, such as the brain and heart, are deprived of oxygen due to a problem affecting the circulatory system. This ultimately leads to cellular death and finally, if untreated, the whole body.

BURNS: Physical damage to tissues by heat is called a burn.

Types of Burn

·         First degree burns are red, painful and will swell a little.

·         Second degree burns are thicker, very painful and produce blisters on the skin.

·         Third degree burns white or charred cause to all layers of the skin and may cause little or no pain because the underneath nerves are damaged.

Effects of burn

Burns can cause swelling, blistering, scarring and, in serious cases, shock and even death. They also can lead to infections because they damage your skin’s protective barrier.

Treatment of burn

Soak first and second-degree burns in cold water for 15 minutes followed y application of the antibiotic cream. Third-degree burn victims should be taken to the hospital.

ELECTRICAL SHOCK

The severity of the shock depends on:

·         Path of current through the body

·         Amount of current flowing through the body

·         Duration of the shocking current through the body

      di-font-family: Symbol'>·         Move the victim to the hospital

While waiting for the medical help follow these steps:

·         Turn of the source of electricity if possible

·         If not, move the live cable away from the victim, using a wooden pole

·         Cover the victim with a blanket and raise his legs slightly

·         Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately if victim is not breathing

·         The victim should see a doctor to check for internal injuries, even if he has no obvious signs or symptoms.

UNCONSCIOUSNESS

·         Leave the victim lying down

·         Sprinkle water on his face

·         Seek medical attention

HEAT STRESS AND PREVENTION

HEAT EXHAUSTION: A condition caused by exposure to heat, resulting in the depletion of body fluids and causing weakness, dizziness, nausea and often collapse. Move the victim to a cooler place; give plenty of water, sponge.

HEAT STROKE: A condition marked by fever and often by unconsciousness caused by the failure of body temperature is called heat stroke. Cool the victim’s body by showering, sponging etc.

RADIOGRAPHY: Radiography is a process in which energetic radiations travel through a medium or space.

Health hazards from Radiations

·         Skin reddening, blistering, and ulceration

·         Loss of hairs

·         Eye cataracts

·         Sterility

·         Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

·         Cancers as leukemia, cancer skin, etc.

RADIATION PROTECTION ACTIONS

Following 3 factors control exposure to radiations:

·         Time:  Reducing the time of an exposure reduces the effective dose proportionally.

·         Distance: Increasing distance reduces the dose. It is like handling a source with forceps rather than fingers.

·         Shielding: An after barrier can provide needed protection from radiations like PPE, wall, screen etc.

ASPHYXIATION: A phenomenon in which oxygen does not reach the brain is called Asphyxiation. If it is not treated in few minutes, asphyxiation leads to loss of consciousness, irreversible brain damage and subsequently to death.

Causes: Asphyxia can be induced by choking, drowning, electric shock, injury or the inhalation of toxic gases.

First Aid:

·         Remove the victim to fresh air.          

·       When an object is stuck in the victim’s throat, hold him as shown and press into his belly with a sudden upward jerk. This forces the air from his lungs and should free his throat. Repeat if necessary.

      Carry out emergency resuscitation if required until help arrives.

FIRE: The process of burning with the emission of heat and light is called Fire.

Causes of Fire: Following are the three things that must be present at the same time in order to produce fire:

·         Enough oxygen to sustain combustion          

·         Enough heat to cause ignition

·         Fuel or combustible material

Remember: By removing any one of these three components we can set out the fire.

Classes of Fire:

·         A: Carbonaceous materials (nonmetals that leave an ash e.g. wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics)

·         B: Flammable liquids (Acetone, Ethanol, Biodiesel, Gasoline, Kerosene, hexane, Octane)

·         C: Flammable Gases

·         D: Flammable metals (Potassium, sodium, aluminum, magnesium)

·         E: Electrical (as long as it is “plugged in”, it would be considered a class C fire)

·         K: Kitchen Fire (Cooking oil and fat)

FIRE PREVENTION

·         Fires can be avoided through simple, routine housekeeping.

·         Dispose of oily rags and similar debris in covered metal containers away from any flame producing source.

·         Keep incompatible chemicals separate.

·         Establish standard operation methods for chemical stores.

·         Smoking should be only in designated areas or NO SMOKING POLICY.

·         Welding and hot works to be managed by PTW.

·         Proper instructions, information, and training.

·         Ensure daily trash removed from the site.

·         Avoid loses electrical connections at the site.

·         Follow safety precautions for LPG and other gases.

·         Segregate chemicals and other wastes.

·         Conduct fire risk assessment of the site and communicate to the work force.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Fire Extinguishers of different types are available to control different types of fire.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Code	Colour	Type	Type of Fire
R	RED	WATER	A
C	CREAM	FOAM	B
B	BLUE	CDP (Chemical Dry Powder)	A,B,C,D
B	BLACK	CO2	A,B,C,D
G	GREEN	HMCP	B,C,D

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER

             

      USING FIRE EXTINGUISHER

WHEN A FIRE IS DISCOVERED

·         Activate fire alarm system and notify the fire department

·         Assist any person in immediate danger to safety

·         You may attempt to put out if the fire is small

·         Know what is burning to help use the right extinguisher

·         Emergency response procedure will activate

·         Emergency response team comes into action

·         Members of emergency response team (Fire wardens and Marshalls) take their positions and direct and guide the evacuation.

·         Some members will rescue injured and dead persons.

·         A part of the team start fire fighting and if it is impossible team leader calls the fire department.

·         All people must come to assembly point

·         Last coming man should have to close the doors and windows before leaving.

·         Earmark an assembly area for the evacuees to gather

·         Establish a headcount system for employees at the assembly area

·         Hold a roll call after evacuation

·         Establish procedures for sending evacuees to shelter or their home if emergency expands

·         Devise methods for assisting people with disabilities

·         Sound all clear alarm when the emergency is over.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

·         A hazardous material is any item which has the potential to cause harm to humans, animals or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other factors.

·         It can be a flammable, explosive, corrosive, oxidizing, asphyxiating, toxic, pathogenic or allergenic material.

·         Hazardous materials are often indicated by diamond shaped sign on the item, its container and/or the building where it is stored.

Interview Question: What is Hazmat?

Ans: HazMat is the abbreviation of two words Hazardous Materials, which means those materials that have potential to cause harm.

HAZMAT

i.                    Types: Toxic, irritant, flammable, combustible, corrosive, asphyxiate, pathogenic.       

ii.                  Storage:

·         Keep incompatible chemicals away from each other

·         Store the chemicals by classification

·         Establish stores away from the work area

·         Display no smoking are sign boards

iii.                Identification: Every chemical container should be labeled by its physical and chemical effects.

iv.                Use: Every precaution should be taken according to MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).

v.                  Disposal: Dispose of chemicals and chemical waste containers as per MSDS.

vi.                Emergency: Handle emergency and spills as per MSDS.

ROOTS OF ENTRY OF HAZMAT

a.      Ingestion

b.      Injection

c.       Inhalation

d.      Skin absorption

e.       Direct entry (from wound or injury)

HEALTH EFFECTS

i.                    Acute                                   

ii.                  Chronic

i.                    Acute: Immediate, severe but usually reversible e.g. Malaria.

ii.           Chronic: Occur due to a long time repeated exposures usually nonreversible e.g. continuous of inhalation of airborne particles cause silicosis.

PRECAUTIONS

·         Wear PPE when handling hazardous materials

·         Follow MSDS instructions issued by suppliers for handling and storing hazardous materials.

·         Keep minimum stock securely locked or barricaded.

·         Display warning and no smoking signs at storage.

·         Have fire fighting equipment available ear stores.

·         Replace containers lid immediately after use.

·         Dispose of empty containers as per procedure.

·         Have rescue response ready.

·         In case of an emergency stay upwind and out of low places.

·         Barricade contaminated area immediately.

NOISE: Intensity or peak of sound level which damages hearing is called noise.

                                                                Or

 Sound pressure level which causes damage to hearing is called noise.

·         Noise in the work place can damage hearing.

·         Hearing damage may occur when noise I higher than 85 decibels, which is about the loudness of heavy traffic.

·         If you have to raise your voice or shout to be heard then the noise level is too loud and harmful. With hearing damage, the conversation becomes difficult or impossible and safety issues can arise.

HAZARDS

·         Sudden damage of ear drum due to intense noise levels as in an explosion.

·         Tinnitus (ringing) in the ear due exposure over a period to time.

·         Permanent deafness.

·         Other health problems including a headache, irritability, fatigue, digestive disorders.

PROTECTION

·         Use ear protection and a decibel meter to find noise level.      

·         Display warning signs in noisy areas.

·         Sue quieter equipment or process.

·         Reduce equipment noise through modifications/ silencers/ plastic parts instead of metallic parts.

·         Use sound deadening barriers or absorbent materials.

·         Locate noisy equipment in separate rooms / far off places.

      Try to run noisy equipment early or late in the day when fewer people will be exposed.

CONFINED SPACES: A space that has any of the following characteristics would be confined space:

·         Limited opening for entry and exit

·         Unfavourable natural ventilation

·         Not designed for continuous worker occupancy.

·         1.5 or deeper excavations

·         Examples: tanks, soils, vessels, pipelines, sewers, etc. are common confined spaces.

CONFINED SPACE HAZARDS

·         An insufficient amount of fresh air for the workers to breathe. Amount of oxygen must be 19.5% in confined space to survive.

·         Excessive amount of oxygen i.e. more than 23% can cause an explosion.

·         Chemical exposures due to skin contact.

·         Flammable liquids and gases may cause a fire.            

·         Leakages from supply lines or flooding

·         Danger of engulfment

·         Echo of sound and noise

·         Can be buried in granules

·         Falling object hazards

·         Extreme atmospheric and surface temperatures.

·         Poor visibility

·         Rescue work is more difficult

·         Poor posture/restricted movement

·         Nor proper way of access and egress.

CONTROL MEASURES:

·         Identify all confined spaces in a plant                       

·         Obtain work permit

·         Make a rescue plan

·         Place sign boards

·         Check air quality with a testing device

·         Install ventilation equipment

·         Post a stand by man to watch

·         SBM must keep contact with emergency room

·         Confined space entry plan

·         Keep a suitable fire extinguisher ready

·         Attach a life line

·         Blank off supply lines leading to the confined space

·         Ensure all workers are well trained and informed

·         Gas monitoring

·         Air circulation or ventilation

·         Arrangement of male nurse and paramedical staff

·         LOTO procedure

·         Use of oxygen (self-contained breathing operates)

STANDBY MAN (SBM): A person who stands outside the confined space to assist the workers in the side and to inform emergency room about any emergency is known as standby man.

·         Stay outside the confined space during any operation performed in confined space

·         Maintains a log register of the entrants

·         Monitors, all activities to determine if it is safe or not for the entrants

·         Does never leave his location of duty until relieved by another SBM

·         Maintains continuous contact with authorized entrants

·         Advises the entrants to leave the work area immediately in case of any emergency

     Maintains continuous contact with emergency control room and gets help for the entrants in the event of an emergency.

HOUSE KEEPING: Keeping things neat, clean and in orderly manners is called housekeeping.

Advantages of Housekeeping:

·         Avoid accidents, injuries, and damages         

·         Easy to manage and locate the things

·         Efficient working

·         Safe work location

·         Increase in work productivity

·         Clean and tidy work places

·         Effective use of space

·         Safe evacuation due to housekeeping

·         Better control of tools and materials, including inventory and supplies

·         Fewer tripping and slipping accidents in clutter-free and spill free work areas

·         Decrease fire hazards

·         Lower worker exposures to dust, vapors, and contaminations

       More efficient equipment cleanup and maintenance.

Important Housekeeping Guidelines:

·         Remove a slipping or tripping hazard            

·         Store all materials in a neat and orderly manner

·         Keep cleaning scraps and trash during work

·         Clear all walking areas and surfaces of mud, etc

·         Do not leave tools and equipment lying around

·         Never run loose cords or hoses across walkways

·         If liquids get spilled, clean immediately

·         Close drawers and cabinets when not in use

·         Secure loose or light material stored on roofs and open floors to keep it from blowing away in the wind

·         Transfer material fall from any level of the project through a chute or in containers

      Keep material at least 6 feet away from floor and roof openings and edges and excavations.

HYGIENE AND CLEANLINESS

Taking care of your health through better health practices is called Hygiene.

                                                                Or

A clean and healthy practice that promotes or preserves health is called Hygiene.

·         Personal Hygiene: cleanliness of body, dental care, nail and hair care, washing of hands after visiting toilets and before and after having food, etc.

·         Washrooms: Keeping them clean and disinfected.

·         Kitchen: Keeping them clean including cooking accessories and utensils.

      Food: Eating healthy food in the clean environment.

RECOMMENDED LIST OF FIRST AID ITEMS

·         Tweezers

·         Alcohol wipes

·         Antiseptic hand cleaner

·         Sterile gauze

·         Elastic bandages

·         Several sizes of adhesive bandages

·         Hydrogen peroxide

·         Bandages scissors

      Exam gloves