144 Chapter Two – Lesson One

Lesson 1: Emergency Response

An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a set of predefined procedures and strategies to be followed in the event of an emergency. It is designed to help organizations, businesses, and individuals respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies such as natural disasters, fires, workplace violence, and terrorism.

The critical components of an EAP typically include:

1. Emergency procedures: This involves knowing what to do in any type of emergency, e.g., natural disasters, chemical spills, etc. Procedures should include evacuation protocols, emergency contact lists, and so on.

2. Communication plan: This involves the method and means of communicating with employees, first responders, family members, and the public. The plan should include voice and email alerts, messaging to social media channels, website updates, and notifications to emergency responders.

3. Training: It involves providing all employees with basic skills such as CPR, first aid, firefighting, or other necessary knowledge. In addition, periodic drills should take place.

4. Recovery plans: This includes processes to resume normal services and operations after an emergency.

How is an EAP created and executed?

An EAP is created and maintained by the organization’s emergency planning committee or by dedicated emergency management personnel. The following steps would be taken to create an “EAP”:

1. Identify potential emergencies: The first step is to consider the possible emergencies that could occur and how they can cause damage.

2. Risk assessment: Evaluate the risk for each emergency scenario, including the potential impacts it could cause on human life, equipment, and infrastructures.

3. Develop emergency procedures: Develop procedures that will be followed in the event of various emergencies.

4. Communication plan: Develop a communication plan outlining how communication is managed concerning emergency processes among employees, customers, contractors, and emergency responders.

5. Employee training: Provide employees with training and resources to ensure that they know their roles and responsibilities during an emergency.

6. Drills and testing: Conduct periodic testing to evaluate the effectiveness of the EAP while training employees by simulating a scenario and testing their aptitude.

In conclusion, the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) helps provide people with the necessary guidance, understanding and experience that will enable them to respond efficiently and effectively during an emergency.

A documented emergency action plan outlines the appropriate responses to various crisis situations, and a risk assessment program is a critical component of an organization’s safety measures. Establishing and training employees on an effective plan can prevent injuries and property damage while ensuring visitor safety. Organizations may need to verify that their surrounding environment and action plans meet the CCOHS requirements.

While EAPs will differ based on building layout, hours of operation, and personnel qualifications, certain universal components should be included, such as evacuation procedures, reporting to authorities, alerting staff and visitors, identifying a media contact, training new staff, and developing policies for updating the plan.

An effective action plan includes protocols for notifying authorities, evacuation and escape routes, operational procedures, accounting for all employees after evacuations, responsibilities for rescue and medical assistance, and contact information. Tips for implementing an action plan include conducting a risk assessment, evaluating resources, maintaining records of the workplace and equipment, reviewing plans with emergency service providers, nominating leaders, educating the workforce, and maintaining an up-to-date plan.

Regular evaluation and adjustment of the plan are essential to ensure its continued effectiveness in meeting the organization’s needs amidst constant change.

The unique challenges that a First Nation community faces

The FN (First Nations) community faces unique challenges when executing an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) due to their remote location, cultural diversity, and infrastructural limitations. Below are some of the challenges that the community may face:

1. Language barriers: The FN community may have language barriers, which may make communication between emergency responders and the community challenging. In such a case, the community may need to rely on volunteers who can communicate in both English and their local dialects.

2. Lack of resources: Some FN communities may not have adequate resources to develop and implement an EAP. They may not have the finances, personnel, and technology to support an efficient EAP.

3. Remote location: Some FN communities are located in remote areas, making it difficult for emergency responders to reach them during an emergency situation. The lack of infrastructure and accessibility may limit the timely response of emergency services.

4. Cultural sensitivity: Emergency responders must consider the cultural sensitivity of the FN community when planning and executing an EAP. They should be educated on the cultural values and practices of the community to avoid offending them or causing unintended harm.

5. Historical trauma: The FN community may have experienced historical trauma due to past events such as residential schools and forced assimilation. Such experiences may affect their trust in government and emergency services, making it difficult to execute an EAP.

6. Traditional knowledge: The FN community also has traditional knowledge that may provide valuable insights during an emergency. Emergency responders must understand and respect this knowledge to develop an effective EAP.

To overcome these challenges, it is crucial to involve the FN community in the development and execution of the EAP. They should also be educated on the importance of having an EAP and their role in its implementation. It is also essential to provide the community with adequate resources, technology, and infrastructure to support an efficient EAP.

Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to various emergencies and disasters such as floods, wildfires, and crude oil spills in their traditional territories. This heightened susceptibility can be attributed to multiple factors, including:

• Dissimilarities between Indigenous governance and traditional knowledge versus the externally controlled emergency response framework, leading to the neglect of local expertise and triggering traumatic colonial practices.
• Practical obstacles in providing emergency services to remote or secluded communities.
• Varieties in the local administrative and technical proficiency that may obstruct active participation in response and recovery operations.
• Lack of trust, a vestige of colonialism, that can hinder coordination or collaboration during the response and impact the use of health services.
• Heavy dependence on local ecosystems for food and other resources crucial to economic, socio-cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being.
• The existence of profound social and health disparities that may render Indigenous communities more susceptible to mental or physical health consequences, and/or restrict their ability to respond.

What does a good Emergency Action Plan (EAP) look and feel like?

Starting with conducting evacuation drills is a wise decision. This allows staff to familiarize themselves with emergency procedures, their exit paths, and designated gathering places. Regular drills are necessary to ensure that employees are ready to respond effectively in the event of an actual emergency. Whenever possible, involve external emergency resources, such as the fire and police departments. Following the drill, convene with management and staff to assess the drill’s success. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the plan and make improvements as necessary.

Your emergency plan must include a way to alert all workers, including those with disabilities, to evacuate or take action as needed. The following measures should be implemented:

Ensure that evacuation alarms are distinct and understood by all employees as a signal to exit the workspace or take necessary actions as specified in the plan.

Provide an emergency communication system such as a public address system, portable radio unit, or other modes to alert workers of the danger and notify the appropriate authorities.

Specify that alarms should be audible, visible, or otherwise apparent to all individuals in the workplace. To account for potential electrical outages, consider providing backup power sources.

Although not required, you may consider introducing tactile equipment to alert individuals who cannot recognize visible or audible alarms and providing an up-to-date list of crucial personnel, such as the plant manager or physician, to notify in the event of an emergency during non-working hours.

When is an EAP is required?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is required in workplaces where there is a potential for hazardous or emergency situations that could cause harm to employees or others.

This includes workplaces that deal with hazardous materials, high-risk machinery, electricity, fire, and other dangerous situations. The exact requirements for an EAP depend on the type of workplace and the level of risk involved. Employers are responsible for developing an EAP and ensuring that their employees are trained to respond appropriately in an emergency situation.

If fire extinguishers are required or provided in your workplace, and if anyone will be evacuating during a fire or other emergency, then OSHA’s [29 CFR 1910.157] requires you to have an EAP. The only exemption to this is if you have an in-house fire brigade in which every employee is trained and equipped to fight fires, and consequently, no one evacuates.

Who is involved in the creation of an EAP?

After finalizing your emergency action plan, it is important to thoroughly examine it with your staff and display it in a space where everyone can access it. It is crucial that employers educate new employees on the components of the EAP and fire prevention plan (FPP) that are pertinent to their safety during an emergency. The written plans should be readily available in the workplace, and if there are 10 or fewer staff members, the plans may be communicated verbally instead of in writing. (29 CFR 1910.38(b) and 29 CFR 1910.39(b))

It is essential to review the EAP with other businesses and employee groups in the building to ensure that coordination efforts could enhance the effectiveness of the plan. If local emergency responders are a crucial part of your plan, such as the fire department, local HAZMAT teams, or other outside responders, it could be beneficial to coordinate with them to ensure everyone knows how to act in the event of an emergency.

Operations and personnel change regularly, so an outdated plan will not help during an emergency. It is critical to review and update your plan frequently, especially when employees’ emergency duties or responsibilities change, the facility’s layout or design changes, new equipment or hazardous materials are introduced, or new hazards require particular action. The most frequent error is outdated information, such as contact details for the facility and organization. It might be useful to put this information on a separate page in the front of the plan to ensure it is readily accessible and simple to update.