Occupational Health and Safety

Management
 MODULE 7

Environmental Concerns, Emergency Planning and Corporate

Social Responsibility
Learning Objectives

1. Explain the necessity of emergency preparedness

plans

2. List the key elements of emergency preparedness,

evacuation and fire plans

3. Describe the concepts of environmental and

corporate social responsibility
Emergency

“A sudden, generally unexpected occurrence or set of

circumstances demanding immediate action”

• Ice Storms
• COVID 19
• Quebec mosque shooting
• H1N1
• Fort McMurray Wildfires
• Flooding
• School shootings
Emergency Preparedness

Emergency planning is anticipating and planning for an

emergency, putting the plan in place, continuing operations, and
tweaking along the way.

The goal of the

emergency plan is
to reduce injuries
and property
damage, and
restore the
organization and its
people to its normal
operations.
Five-Stage Crisis Management Model

Signal Damage
Preparation Recovery Learning
Detection Containment
Emergency Planning Hazard Control

3 Tiers
Controlling the
Precontact Control - Addressing issues
workplace hazards 1 before an incident or accident takes place
and includes
preventative and Contact Control - Identifying ways the
corrective measures 2 situation can be contained from becoming
worse and harming workers
Post-contact Control - Implementing medical
3 and cleanup operations and ensuring event
cannot be repeated
Precontact Control

• Identify and address emergencies before they occur

• Necessary elements in managing emergencies include:
− “Futureproofing”
− Emergency plan
− Hazard evaluation
− Emergency manager
− Fire plan
− Evacuation plan
− Notification of authorities
− Supplies
− Training and drills
11- Copyright © 2021 by Nelson Education
8 Ltd.
Emergency Plan

Hazard Evaluation: HR and safety professionals evaluate the hazards

that could cause an emergency (e.g., storage of flammable solvents
near static electricity or ignition sources).
Emergency Response Plan should be written, published, and posted.
There must be good alarm facilities with emergency communication
devices, and everyone in the plant must be familiar with their locations
and use.
Emergency Manager: A person (e.g. plant manager) who is
responsible for overseeing and executing the plan.
Emergency Plan

Notification of Authorities: Companies should be aware of any

legislative requirements - such as the requirement to notify the Ministry
of Labour, police, and so on - related to an emergency.
Supplies: Emergency first-line equipment such as fire extinguishers
must be in well-defined, easily accessible locations.
Drills: Regular emergency drills, with the occasional unannounced drill
to keep everyone current and knowledgeable, are a standard part of
most plans. Rehearsals are an important part of training.
Emergency Plan

Evacuation Plan for evacuating employees and clients in the

event of a major emergency or disaster is a key element in
emergency preparedness.

• Every worker in the plant must know exactly where to

congregate when the need arises and be aware of at least two
evacuation routes.
• There should be well-marked, unobstructed evacuation paths
with well-lit exits.
Contact Control

Identify ways the situation can be contained from becoming worse

and harming workers

• Suppression
• Barriers
• Modifications
• Substitution
• Isolation
Contact Control Fire Planning

• Contact
o Fire plan as an example
o Same characteristics as the main emergency plan
• Fire gets out of control and a full-blown emergency results.
• A group of workers must be trained in firefighting techniques and be
part of the plant’s fire brigade.
• Workers also must be trained in emergency first aid
Contact Stage: Fire Prevention and Suppression

Four Stages
Uncontrolled
fire stage: Fire is
Free-burning out of control and
stage: Stage at major property
Smouldering which flames first damage is under
stage: Fuel, appear way.
Incipient stage: oxygen, and heat
A source of are present and
ignition and fuel are causing the
come together heat to rise
through limited
chain reaction.
Contact Stage: Fire Prevention and Suppression

Standards for the construction of buildings are

detailed in the federal and provincial or territorial
1 Structural design
fire codes, as well as in fire marshal and building
codes and regulations.

Walls and floors can delay or prevent the spread

2 Barriers
of fire.

Most buildings have a detection system that

3 Detection and suppression
senses heat and smoke.

Combustible materials should be rated and

4 Storage
stored in separate or isolated areas.
Classes of Fire
Post-contact Control

Implementing medical and cleanup operations and ensuring event

cannot be repeated

Steps can include:

• Immediate care of employees

• Lock machinery until investigation complete
• Keep unauthorized people out of area
• Determine items to salvage and waste to be disposed
• Notify Joint H&S committee
• Complete accident reports
• Review company procedures and update where necessary
• Communicate with workers about the event. Could also include safety
re-training, trauma counseling depending on severity
After the Emergency: Post Contact

• Post Contact stage is a crucial element in the emergency plan.

• Goal is to help and support employees with stresses of
experiencing and/or witnessing an emergency.
• Getting back to “normal”
• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)
• Group or individual
• Debrief, discuss event, experiences and reaction
• May require external supports such as EAP, psychologists, special
training or support
Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility

• Leaders and H.R. professionals play a key role in leading and guiding
workers and other stakeholders through an emergency
• Active and engaged leadership during a crisis is linked with lower
levels of individual distress and improved recovery post-incident
• After a disaster, an organization’s commitment to restoring the
environment and liaising with the community improves an
organization’s corporate social image.
• Media/public relations with workers, suppliers, customers and other
members of the surrounding community during and after an
emergency is an important element of emergency planning