Guide to Creating an Emergency Response Plan
Purpose: Emergency procedures ensure that responses to emergencies are prompt,
organized and effective.
Your companys Emergency Response Plan must cover off these five key elements:
1. Emergency responsibilities
2. Emergency procedures
3. Communications
4. Investigation
5. Plan verification
Read and answer the questions (where indicated) in each of these five elements to help
build your Emergency Response Plan.
1. Emergency Responsibilities
During emergencies, emotions can run high it is critical that emergency procedures are
distributed to all employees and reviewed frequently, so that everyone knows what their
role is.
Responsibility requirements include defining:
Who is responsible for regular site inspections, including identifying potential
hazards and corrective action.
Who is responsible for First-Aid, including making sure trained personnel are
on site and First-Aid Kits and equipment are properly maintained.
Who is responsible for emergency and evacuation training of all personnel.
Who is responsible for developing, reviewing and updating emergency and
evacuation procedures.
Who is responsible for creating and updating the Emergency Contact List (see
Communications below).
Who is identified as Emergency Response Team Leader.
Who is responsible for contacting external emergency responders.
Who is responsible for initiating the emergency response process (stop-work
order, site containment, search-and-rescue and First-Aid procedures).
Who is responsible for external communications (communities, families, head
office, media, etc.).
Who is the internal investigation team leader.
2. Emergency Procedures
The Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires written rescue and evacuation
procedures for a number of different emergency situations, including working in
confined/remote spaces, at high angles, near or over water, etc.
Based on the work site conditions identified in your site inspection, you must develop the
appropriate procedures. These procedures should include, but not be limited to:
Listing all potential hazards and their possible consequences.
Preparing an inventory of resources needed for emergency response (medical
supplies, rescue equipment, etc.)
Identifying evacuation routes for the work site and surrounding area.
Contacting on-site First-Aid providers and the Emergency Response Team
Leader.
Contacting external emergency responders, government and company
representatives.
On-site fire-fighting, rescue and medical evacuation.
Containment of the hazard and/or location to protect people and the
environment.
Briefing and training workers on emergency response, and conducting periodic
drills.
Shut down and start up.
Protection of vital records.
Clean-up, investigation and return to work.
3. Communications
Clear procedures and lines of communication must be put in place to enable emergency
personnel to notify others on the work site, company management and outside
emergency responders. Theyre also essential in helping the company provide
information to families, communities and the media in a timely manner. Communications
requirements include:
Defining your internal, on-site emergency communications process.
Ensuring all personnel are trained in that process.
Identifying who is responsible for contacting external emergency responders.
Identifying who is responsible for external communications with the community,
company, government, media, etc.
Identifying who is responsible for developing and maintaining the emergency
contact list. This list should include at least:
o Fire services, including Forest Fire services
o Police & Ambulance Services
o Medivac and hospital services
o Municipal and company representatives
o Utility providers
o Government ministries (Forests, Environment, Solicitor General)
o BC Forest Safety Council and WorkSafeBC
o Coroners Office
4. Investigation
An internal investigation team leader must be appointed. Their job is to act as liaison
with police, the BC Forest Safety Council, WorkSafeBC and other government agencies
to assist in the full investigation of any incident.
This individual is also responsible for the following:
Overall control of the investigation team activities, from inception to
completion.
Reviewing the final report and making a presentation to senior management
personnel on the investigators findings and recommendations.
As applicable, meet with the family of any seriously injured worker(s) to
discuss the incident and convey the companys sympathy regarding the
incident.
5. Plan Verification
All work sites must be visited by the site supervisor and at least one member of the
safety team. Their job is to make sure the Emergency Response Plan will work on each
site that means adjusting the plan to the sites logistics as required. Included in the
items to be examined are:
Communications where in the site is there a danger of communication
blackout? How far do workers have to go to get back into communications
range?
Emergency access what is the fastest, safest route in for outside emergency
responders?
Evacuation procedures identify the safest routes out of the work site in the
event of an environmental emergency?
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Company Representative
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Worker Safety Representative
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Date
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