Emergency Response Plan

 

Overview

Proper emergency planning and response are important elements of the safety and health program that helps minimize employee exposure and injury. The standard requires that the employer develop and implement a written emergency response plan to handle possible emergencies before performing hazardous waste operations.

What must be in the plan? The plan must include the following elements: •          personnel roles, lines of authority, and communication procedures, •          pre-emergency planning, •          emergency recognition and prevention, •          emergency medical and first-aid treatment, •          methods or procedures for alerting onsite workers, •          safe distances and places of refuge,

•      Site security and control,

•      Decontamination procedures,

•      Critique of response and follow-up,

•      Personal protective and emergency equipment, and

•      Evacuation routes and procedures.

What must I do?

Each employee who has the potential to be exposed to a hazardous substance release should know:

·            What hazards are present in the workplace.

·            How to obtain a written copy of the emergency planning and response plan.

 

Company Vehicle Safety Inspections

 

Before you drive a company vehicle, make sure it’s safe by conducting a vehicle safety inspection.

Check the vehicle to be sure:

• The vehicle does not have any visible damage that affects its safe operation.
• The tires are properly inflated (use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations that are typically noted on a sticker inside the door, glove box, or trunk -- the pressures stamped on the tire are not specific to the vehicle). Check the pressure when the tires are cold.
• Tires have sufficient tread depth (tread depth should be at least 1/16 inch).
• The vehicle’s fluid levels are correct (oil, brake, transmission, battery, and wiper fluids).
• Belts and hoses are free of blisters, cracks, and cuts.
• The vehicle has plenty of fuel.
• The windshield wipers are in good condition and are functional.
• You are familiar with the location and operation of all the vehicle’s controls; and the seat, steering wheel, and mirrors are properly adjusted.
• Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, and interior lights are working.
• The seat belt is properly adjusted, and it’s in good condition.
• The vehicle is equipped with an emergency kit.
• Loose objects are secured so they won’t shift to cause injury during a sudden stop or turn.

A safety inspection is only helpful if you report defects or unsafe conditions right away. Don’t risk driving an unsafe vehicle.

Hazards with Suspended Loads

 

Multiple times a year I’m sent a serious injury or fatality report associated with suspended loads. You should never consider working, walking, standing or traversing under a suspended load. Suspended loads pose great dangers to all involved in that work task and all of those who are not associated with that task.

Let’s consider some scopes of suspended loads:

• Crane picks

• Lull and forklift operations

• Beta hoist material handling

• Chain fall material handling

 • Well wheel material handling

• Boom lift material setting

• Scissor lift material handling

• Ladder material handling

• Suspended Swing stage work

• Backhoe’s placing shields in deep excavations

 

What could possibly go wrong?

• Communication breakdown amongst the tradesmen

• Tradesmen/people traversing under our loads

• Rigging failures • Equipment failures

• Overloading the capacity of such equipment’s

• Human error while guiding a load

 

What can we do to prevent these struck by/crushed by accidents?

• Better pre-planning

• Better jobsite communications in orientations

• Inspections of all rigging

• Knowing the capacity ratings of such equipment’s

• Only certified/trained operators on mentioned equipment’s

• Constant inspections of equipment and rigging prior to each use

• Keep 20 ft away from overhead powerline

• Demark a controlled access zone with directional and warning signage at ground level

• Provide a spotter or flagger while lifting or swinging load

• Provide public canopies at access routes

• Wear high visibility PPE

• Discuss upcoming suspended work at weekly foreman meetings

• Only one person at a time communicates with crane operations

• Place bobcat buckets and lull forks on the ground when not in use

 

There is plenty of information here to benefit from regarding suspended loads. Take a look at your projects today and discuss who may be performing suspended load applications. Address their task according to what we have discussed within this document