Emergency Response Planning

Introduction/Background
OSHA Standard(s)
Hazard
Prevention & Control
FAQs
Links

Introduction

Despite your best intentions to prevent occupational safety and health problems, there will be times when unexpected events occur. A good emergency response plan can help keep an emergency from becoming a disaster.

All pork operations should develop and communicate an Emergency Action Plan to all employees. A solid Emergency Action Plan will help lessen human, animal, property, and financial losses in the event of an emergency.

What do I need to do?

Follow these steps to create an Emergency Action plan for your operation:

1. Make a list of the types of emergency events which COULD affect your operation. Example “events” should include:

• Injury to workers
• Acute health-related emergency (heart attack, other unexpected event)
• Criminal activity on the facility (break-in, theft, tampering, etc.
• Fire
• Spill (pesticide, pharmaceutical, manure, etc.)
• Natural disaster (tornado, flood, etc.)
• Power outage (loss of any utility such as electricity, gas, water, etc.)

2. For each type of event you identify as being important to your operation, develop an “action plan.” These should include a list of supplies needed (for example, fire extinguishers to deal with the fire threat, first aid kits for emergencies, electricity generators for power outages, etc.). In addition, each event should also have a corresponding list of actions to take if that event were to occur.

3. Develop the following documents and post them together in conspicuous locations, near telephones, in each building on your farm:

• A Farm Emergency Information sheet
• A list of First Aid cardholders in your operation.
  • To find American Red Cross First Aid courses in your community, contact your local American Red Cross chapter (click on “contacting your local chapter
• A map of each building on your farm, with escape routes and fire extinguishers clearly marked.
• A Safety Plan Contact Sheet, which includes the name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan.

4. Develop an Evacuation Plan from all facilities.

5. After developing the above, train all employees on your new Emergency Action plan. Training must be conducted:

• When the plan is first launched
• For each new hire
• Whenever the Emergency Action Plan is changed.

Be sure to hold drills periodically to ensure that all employees know exactly what do to when an emergency happens, adrenaline is flowing, and every second counts.

OSHA Rules

For certain situations, OSHA requires Emergency Action Plans. In addition, states may require that comparable plans be in place. Regardless of regulatory requirements, it is wise to have a plan in place. Information from OSHA 1910.38 includes:

1910.38(a)
Application. An employer must have an emergency action plan whenever an OSHA standard in this part requires one. The requirements in this section apply to each such emergency action plan.

1910.38(b)
Written and oral emergency action plans. An emergency action plan must be in writing, kept in the workplace, and available to employees for review. However, an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees.

1910.38(c)
Minimum elements of an emergency action plan. An emergency action plan must include at a minimum:

1910.38(c)(1)
Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency;

1910.38(c)(2)
Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments;

1910.38(c)(3)
Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;

1910.38(c)(4)
Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation;

1910.38(c)(5)
Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties; and

1910.38(c)(6)
The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan.

1910.38(d)
Employee alarm system. An employer must have and maintain an employee alarm system. The employee alarm system must use a distinctive signal for each purpose and comply with the requirements in § 1910.165.

1910.38(e)
Training. An employer must designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees.

1910.38(f)
Review of emergency action plan. An employer must review the emergency action plan with each employee covered by the plan:

1910.38(f)(1)
When the plan is developed or the employee is assigned initially to a job;

1910.38(f)(2)
When the employee's responsibilities under the plan change; and

1910.38(f)(3)
When the plan is changed.

Here is additional information from OSHA’s Small Business Handbook:

• Plan for emergencies, including fire and natural disasters. Conduct frequent drills to ensure that all employees know what to do under stressful conditions.
• Ask your state consultant to help develop a medical program that fits your worksite. Involve nearby doctors and emergency facilities by inviting them to visit your workplace and help you plan the best way to avoid injuries and illness during emergency situations.
• Ensure the ready availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation on matters of employee health. This does not mean that you must provide health care, but you must be prepared to deal with medical emergencies or health problems connected to your workplace

To fulfill the above requirements, consider the following:

• Develop an emergency medical procedure to handle injuries, transport ill or injured workers and notify medical facilities. Posting emergency numbers is a good idea.
• Survey the medical facilities near your place of business and make arrangements for them to handle routine and emergency cases. Cooperative agreements may be possible with nearby larger workplaces that have on-site medical personnel and/or facilities.
• If your business is remote from medical facilities, you are required to ensure that adequately trained personnel are available to render first aid. First aid supplies must be readily available for emergency use. Arrangements for this training can be made through your local Red Cross chapter, your insurance carrier, your local safety council, and others.

All Self-Inspection Activities Should Include:

• First Aid Program/Supplies – medical care facilities locations, posted emergency phone numbers, accessible first aid kits.
• Evacuation Plan – establish and practice procedures for an emergency evacuation, e.g., fire, chemical/biological incidents, bomb threat; include escape procedures and routes, critical plant operations, employee accounting following an evacuation, rescue and medical duties and ways to report emergencies.

What are the forms, tools, and checklists to help me?

Farm Emergency Information

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STEPS

1. Assess the scene.
Every second counts. Consider the condition of the injured, hazards at the scene and the time required to activate Emergency Medical Services (EMS). If you can activate EMS quickly, then do so.

2. Activate Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Use a telephone or radio. Give clear directions to the farm and accident scene on the farm, and if possible, have someone wait by the road to show the way to the scene.

WHO TO CALL FIRST

• Dial 9-1-1 or EMERGENCY CONTACTS:
• Fire: [input field]
• Police: [input field]
• Ambulance: [input field]
• Poison Control: [input field]
• Electric Utility Co: [input field]
• Gas Utility Co.: [input field]

WHAT TO TELL DISPATCHER

• Name of Farm: [input field]
• Name of Farm Owner/Operator: [input field]
• Directions to the Farm (list the appropriate information – GPS coordinates, land location, six-digit rural property number, or nearest road intersection and landmarks):
• The location of the emergency scene within the farm
• The nature of the incident (fall, burn, etc.)
• The number of casualties
• The condition of casualty (bleeding, breathing difficulty, entanglement, amputation, etc.
• The type of aid that has already been given
• Whether someone will meet EMS at the road entrance to a remote location
• Any special conditions that may hinder rescue, such as known medical conditions of casualty (heart, diabetes, epilepsy) or difficulty reaching the emergency site (mud, fallen trees, etc.)
• Other information as necessary.

3. Return to the scene.
If you had to leave the scene to get help, quickly try to bring back with you materials that will help with the rescue such as a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, blanket, tractor, chains, boards, cell phone, etc.

4. Stabilize the scene.
Is the injured in immediate danger of further injury? Will it be dangerous for you to approach the injured? Without putting yourself in danger, is there anything you can do to lessen the danger of further injury to the injured? Injured persons should not be moved unless they’re in immediate danger of further injury!

5. Care for the injured.
Locate a First Aid cardholder at the facility. If you cannot find one, follow these basic first aid principles:

Breathing: If the injured is not breathing and you don’t suspect spinal injuries, open the airway by tilting the injured’s head back and lifting his or her chin. Do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or CPR if necessary.

Bleeding: Place a bandage (use a piece of clean clothing if a bandage is not handy) over the wound and apply direct pressure with the palm of your hand.

Shock: Keep the injured lying down, reassured and warm. Do not give anything to eat or drink.

WHO TO CALL AFTER THE SITUATION IS STABILIZED

Primary Contact
Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Secondary Contact
Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]
Neighbor (if necessary, as in the event of a brush fire):
Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

First Aid Cardholders
Name of Facility: [input field]

The following people hold current Red Cross First Aid cards. Please contact the nearest First Aid cardholder in the event of an injury:

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

CPR-trained Cardholders
Name of Facility: [input field]

The following people are currently CPR-trained cardholders. Please contact the nearest CPR cardholder in the event of an injury:

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Phone Number: [input field]

Safety Plan Contact Sheet

1. Do you have questions about our Safety Program?
2. Do you need an explanation of your duties under our Safety Program?

The following person(s) can answer your questions:

Name: [input field]
Job Title: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Job Title: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Job Title: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Job Title: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Job Title: [input field]

Evacuation Plan Worksheet

1. Plan your escape routes: Draw a map of each building on your farm, clearly indicate escape routes and fire extinguishers. See OSHA’s Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool – Design and Construction Requirements for Exit Routes:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/egress_construction.html

2. Decide on your preferred means of alerting employees to the need to evacuate. The alarm system may be voice communication or sound signals such as bells, whistles or horns. Employees must recognize and respond to the evacuation signal.

Preferred evacuation signal: [input field]

3. Establish a “nose count” system; a plan for accounting for all employees after an evacuation. Depending on the size of your operation, your nose-count system could be as simple as the following:

• Designate a post-evacuation meeting place for every building; a safe location to which everyone must report after evacuating. [input field]
• Identify “nose-count leaders” for each building, persons to which everyone must report once they’ve arrived at the meeting place. [input field]
• Make sure nose-count leaders receive training. They must understand beforehand that they’re responsible for counting evacuated employees and for notifying police or Emergency Medical Services of persons believed to be missing.

4. Develop shut down plan: procedures to be followed by employees who remain to perform or shut down critical production operations before they evacuate. These employees must understand the functions they’re responsible for.

Name: [input field]
Job Title: [input field]
Pre-evacuation functions: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Job Title: [input field]
Pre-evacuation functions: [input field]

Name: [input field]
Job Title: [input field]
Pre-evacuation functions: [input field]

5. Train employees on the evacuation plan: You must train all employees what to do in case of an emergency. They must know the escape routes, post-evacuation meeting places, and who the nose-count leaders are. Supervisors must make sure new hires understand the plan. If changes are ever made to the plan, all employees must be retrained.

FAQ’s on this Issue and Answers:

Q: Do I really need an emergency action plan according to OSHA?
A: Almost every business is required to have an emergency action plan (EAP). 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.
Q: I understand that exits are an important part of an action plan. Where can I learn more about proper exits which will comply with OSHA standards?
A: OSHA has excellent online resources on exits and related requirements. Check their website at: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/egress_construction.html

Kerry – You may also wish to include this last FAQ in the FIRE section.

Additional Notes and Information:

Kerry – Information below is from PPSS….Use as you see fit.

Response time to an unexpected event can be decreased and further loss or injury prevented by developing an Emergency Action Plan. Everyone working in the pork production facility must be informed of the plan. An Emergency Action Plan covers who to notify in case of emergency, what you need to tell them, what actions to take. You should know who in your facility is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid. You should also learn who to should contact with questions about the emergency plan so they may be answered before an emergency situation arises.

The Emergency Action Plan is a written document detailing how to notify, rescue and evacuate in case of fire, noxious gas leak, natural disaster, chemical spill or other such emergency.

The term evacuation route refers to a drawing or text that clearly describes how a person should exit a building in case of an emergency.

MSDS or Material Safety Data Sheets are components of the Right to Know and Hazard Communications Law. All manufacturers of potentially hazardous substances like cleaners, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals must provide this sheet with every chemical sold. The MSDS includes information about the chemical, its potential hazards, and how to safely work with it.

Because accidents are inevitable, it’s critical that hog production facility employees familiarize themselves with the key emergency situation practices at the facility. The Emergency Action Plan will tell you who to call, what to say and what steps to follow in an emergency. If someone
is injured in the accident, go to the sheet in your facility listing the names of on-site first aid cardholders. Contact this person and make sure the injured individual is cared for, until emergency medical services can arrive.

Make sure you have consulted your Safety Program Contacts, the people in your operation who can answer any questions you may have about the operation’s Safety Program. Familiarize yourself with the Evacuation Plans, which indicate how to exit each building as well as where to meet once you have exited so the person in charge of conducting a head-count can verify who has safely evacuated the building.

Five-step emergency procedure

When an accident occurs follow this five-step emergency procedure to help the injured person as soon as possible.

First, notify a first aid cardholder so basic care may be administered to the individual.

Second, contact emergency services either by radio or phone.
Third, provide directions to emergency personnel and notify neighbors that emergency help is on the way so they may help direct them where they need to go.

Fourth, stabilize the accident scene if the hazard still exists without putting yourself in danger. By doing this you can prevent further danger to the injured person or others.

Fifth, after the emergency personnel have left, notify your supervisor that an accident has occurred and an investigation must be performed.

Hazardous gases

Hazardous gases are a risk to you and the animals. These gases are very dangerous and you should take special care to follow all steps in the Emergency Action Plan when dealing with these gases. One way to determine if there are hazardous gases in a room is to look for downed
animals or people. If people or animals are down it is possible that the area contains hazardous gases and you must not enter the room. If you notice people are down contact emergency medical services as outlined in the Emergency Action Plan instead of entering the room.

After surveying the room and determining that only animals are down, contact your supervisor who will then take the correct course of action. You may be able to dilute some of the toxic gases without entering the room by bringing fresh air in through a fan or an open curtain, window
or door.

Enter the building only if you have been trained and approved to use a supplied-air respirator, are wearing a harness with an attached line and have someone in position on the outside to pull you out in case of an emergency. Respirators, such as an air-line respirator or a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), will let you safely breathe in an unsafe environment.

Fire

A unique set of responses – which can be remembered by using the acronym RACE – is required when there is a fire in the facility

RESCUE those in immediate danger.
ANNOUNCE to others the need to evacuate
CONTAIN the fire by closing doors and windows as you exit
EVACUATE immediately

Go straight to the designated meeting spot upon evacuating the building so that your head-count leader will know that you have safely made it out of the building. If the fire occurs outside of the building – such as a scrub or grass fire – be sure to notify all neighbors of the potential dangers so they may take action.

Key points

Learn who to call, what to say, what to do in the event of an emergency.
Know how to contact employees trained in CPR and first aid cardholders on the operation.
Know who to contact with questions about the operation’s safety program.

Do:
Read and know your facility’s Emergency Action Plan and Information.
Know the Safety Program contacts.
Know and follow the five-step emergency procedure.
Use the RACE response plan in dealing with fires.

Don’t:
Fail to report or notify others of emergency situations.
Enter a building known or suspected to have hazardous gasses without following safety procedures and wearing proper respiration equipment.
Fail to notify neighbors and others of a scrub or grass fire.