Emergency Response

Emergency Response

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Emergency response and emergency evacuation drills are important to practice to ensure, that in the event of an emergency, all employees know what their role is, what to do and where to go. In times of an emergency being prepared could be the difference between calm and panic or life and death depending on the circumstances.

Types of emergencies to practice for

When thinking of emergency drills, the majority of people think of a fire drill.

However there a few drills we should regularly practice for. Place these

emergency drills into your calendar if they are relevant for your location and

industry:

• First Aid

• Fire

• Earthquake

• Vehicle Accident

• Hazardous Substance Spill

• Hazardous Substance Fumes

• Gas Explosion or leak

• Shooting

• Robbery

• Flooding

• Civil Defence Event

• Volcanic Eruption

• Tornado

• Tsunami

Why perform drills?

By performing an emergency drill you can prepare and remind key

staff of the roles they are required to play in the emergency. By

providing frequent training, people are more likely to remain calm and

remember the actions they are required to perform.

Someone who has not received frequent practice in the form of a drill,

is more likely to panic and forget key actions during the emergency

event.

Check your emergency kits

When performing your emergency drill, grab the emergency kit and

complete an equipment check. By completing regular equipment

checks you are less likely to not have the products required during a

drill and will know where the kit is located.

Timing in an emergency could be a key component.

Remember the 3 c’s during an emergency event.

• Check that the environment and accessibility to the injured person/

spill/ building/ exit is safe

• Call emergency services/ alert other workers in the workplace

• Care for the injured person/ fire or hazardous situation if safe and

capable to.

Post drill discussion

Discuss the result of the emergency drill afterwards.

Are there any suggestions for improvement? Some key topics to

discuss could be:

• Did everyone remember their role?

• Has all emergency equipment be sourced?

• Time - how can your team complete the drill faster while still being

accurate?

• Alternative exits - if an exit is unsafe, how will your team exit the

building?

• Is the Safe Assembly point the best place to gather due to the

emergency scenario?

• Procedure following the emergency? Do you send employees home

after the head count? Are they to wait? Who contacts next of kin?

Next of Kin Details

During an emergency drill not many businesses think of how they

will get in touch with a victims next of kin, if required. During an

emergency that requires an evacuation are the next of kin details

carried out of the building? Are the details up to date?

By having a staff member responsible to gather next of kin details

during the emergency could remove a lot of worry, frustration and

stress. Details can be provided to emergency services quickly if

required. If employees agree, a good place for next of kin details could

be at the back of the visitor register or in the first aid kit. These two

items are collected during an evacuation already.

Health Records

Encourage employees to share important health information with

the company and regularly ask employees if their health status has

changed.

Ask employees for details about:

• Health issues

• Illnesses

• Allergies

Even if these health related factors do not compromise the employees

ability to work, if they have an accident or health incident at work the

details can be relayed quickly to emergency respondents and correct

treatment can be applied

Red Knob Day

Book in a “Red Knob Day” on this

day you press the emergency stop

button on machinery to ensure that

emergency functions work and that

workers know the process when

reacting to an emergency.

Record these practices as an

emergency drill and have regular

training sessions.