INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER

REDUCTION (ISDR)
AWARENESS SYMPOSIUM 2009
Health Sector’s
Emergency Response Plan

Victoria Hospital
Risk Assessment 2008
Seychelles Health Services Agency
Department of Risk & Disaster
Management
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
Archipelago in the Indian
Ocean, northeast of
Madagascar, far East Cost of
Africa

85000
Population
115 Islands
176Sq Miles
Derek Samson, Health & Safety 1.4 Million Km2
Officer, Ministry of Health & Social
Development
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
Main hospital:
Victoria Hospital (Head Quarter H.S.A & Public
Health Department), office blocks & health care
facilities with wards and Specialise Care Units, to
name a few:
• Administration- • Surgery
Hospital
• Dentistry • Blood Transfusion
• Oncology • Intensive Care Unit
• Physiotherapy • Psychiatric
• Gynecology
• Ophthalmology • Clinical/ Public H
• Accident / Emergency Lab
• Internal Medicine • Nephrology
• Paediatric • Public Health Lab
• Maternal Health
• Radiology Unit
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
 H.S.A Health Care Facilities
Associated Health and Safety Issues
•Hospitals, •biological hazards
•Health Centres, (blood borne pathogens)
•Dental Clinics, •potential chemical /
•Surgical/Medical drug exposures
Wards •clinical/domestic waste
•Pediatric Wards
•respiratory hazards
•Emergency Rooms
•ergonomic hazards
•And others…
(lifting & repetitive tasks)
•Forms of physical hazards
• hazards associated with laboratories,
radioactive material & x-ray hazards.
Health Care workers are exposed to :
Health and safety hazards
Biological
Chemical
Physical
Psychological
•Nurses and Physicians- infectious diseases
•Maintenance workers - to solvents, falls, and
electrical hazards.
•Housekeepers -detergents and disinfectants +
waste
•All workers- stress and shift work (Less obvious)
Some how clients/patients may be directly or in
directly be exposed or involved to such Health
and Safety Hazards
 Health sector RISK ASSESSMENT
Health Sector’s Emergency Response Plan
can wisely be developed by exploring the
results of a Risk Assessment within the
Health Sector. (Its Health and Safety
condition)
Safe and healthy health facilities with
healthy and fit staff will somehow reduce
the chance of calamities to occur. On the
other hand the staff will be secure and safe
knowing that there are enough available
provisions in ensuring their safety and
healthy wellbeing.
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
•September 2008 ,03rd to 25th (22 days)
•Part of 2008 International Day for Natural
Disaster Reduction programme activities
•International Disaster Risk Reduction Day
Organising Committee Meeting

•Department of Risk Disaster Management,

Seychelles Fire Brigade
•Public Health Department and
•Health Services Agency
-Red Cross Society of Seychelles, -UNDP,
-Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation
-Nurses Association of Seychelles, -WHO
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
- To identify the level of risk and the extent
of vulnerability of Victoria Hospital and
Network of its functioning system
- To propose short, medium and long term
mitigative solutions
- To start the eventual development of a
hospital facilities emergency response
plan
- To identify training needs in terms of
response, mitigation and preparedness

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
The assessment covered the following
hazards:
1) Fire

2) Landslide(Rock Fall ) and floods

3) Strong winds (Cyclones)

4) Common aggravating factors

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
ƒ Electrical wiring system
ƒ Fire exit /Fire doors
ƒ Fire safety training
ƒ Fire equipments:
ƒ Fire extinguishers / fire hose reel/
fire blankets
ƒ Fire alarm
ƒ Smoke detectors
ƒ Fire hydrants
ƒ Other

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
ƒ Surrounding trees

ƒ Roof / ceiling structure

ƒ Loose materials

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
- Floor location
- Drainage
- Potential aggravating environmental
factors

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
- Storage / waste disposal
- Building maintenance
- Emergency Response Procedure
- Poor housekeeping (Staff practices)
- Occupants at risk

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
-Potentially dangerous trees need to be felled
or lopped
- Roof and ceiling needs to be properly
maintained and fixed accordingly to withstand
strong winds
- Doors and windows needs to be kept shut
preventing wind currents
-No loose materials should be left on the roof
- Drainage system should be kept clear of all
debris and obstructions
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
- Initiate proper storage

- The building maintenance should be done on

a more regular and thorough basis

- Develop Emergency Response Procedure and

staff training

- Initiate and encourage good housekeeping

(Staff practices)
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
 LANDSLIDE /
FIRE CYCLONE COMMON AGGREVIATING FACTOR
FLOOD
LOCATIONS Fire Fire
Electrical Smoke Fire fighting Surrounding Roof / Floor Waste Disruption of Safety Building Evacuation Staff Occupancy At
Door Alarm
system detector Equipments Trees Ceiling Location Disposal Services Exits Maintenance Plan Practices Risk
/Exit System
Maternity 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 1 3 3 1 3 0 3
Maternity2 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 0 3 3 3 1 3 0 3
Delivery
3 3 3 3 3 3 0 0 1 3 3 2 3 0 3
Suite
Paediatric
3 3 3 3 3 0 0 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 3
Ward
Neonatal
Intensive 1 1 3 3 3 3 3 0 1 3 3 1 3 0 3
Care
Hermitte
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 1 3 3 1 3 1 3
Ward
D’Offay ward 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 2 3 3 1 3 1 3
Female
Medical 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 0 2 3 3 1 3 0 3
ward
Male Medical
3 3 3 3 3 1 1 2 1 3 3 1 3 3 3
ward
Psychiatric
Ward & Day 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 2 3 3 2 3 1 3
Unit
Intensive
3 3 3 3 3 1 1 0 1 3 3 1 3 1 3
Care Unit
Haemodialys
3 3 3 3 3 1 1 3 1 3 3 1 3 1 3
is Unit
Oncology
3 3 3 3 3 1 1 0 1 3 3 1 3 1 3
Unit

0 = OKAY – SAFE 2 = SERIOUS PROBLEMS

1 = MINOR PROBLEMS       3 = CRITICAL
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
Taking into consideration the hazards and the
secondary effects involved, the hospital
services will be highly at risk.

Disruption involve loss of:

-Staff
-Important medical equipments
-Necessary care materials : medicine, food,
furniture

Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
- Devise a Health and Safety
Management System for the Health
Sector
- Make provision for the post of a Health
and Safety Officer within the Health
Sector
- Draw up and implement a Health and
Safety Action Plan
- Make provision for the creation and
implementation of a Health Sector’s
Health and Safety Policy
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
- Creation of a Health and Safety
Committee for the Health Sector.
- Create an emergency response plan for
the evacuation of the Victoria Hospital
- Training of staff in the important subjects
of Health and Safety in the context of the
Health Sector
-Establish and adopt Standard Operating
Procedures in support to Health & Safety
measures in the Health Sector
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development
Derek Samson, Health & Safety Officer, Ministry of Health & Social Development