OBJECTIVE
To establish and maintain an emergency preparedness programme so as to identify and respond to potential accidents and emergency situations and to minimise the EHS impacts/risks that may be associated with them.
SCOPE
Applies to accidents and emergency situations such as fires, explosions, chemical spills and accidental discharges that occur on the manufacturing site of the organisation.
RESPONSIBILITY
The EHS Officer / FSM shall maintain and update this Emergency Preparedness and Response procedure and its associated plans whenever necessary.
The CERT members shall ensure they remain competent of their appointment by attending CERT related training, participating in drills, etc.
All employees shall familiarise themselves with evacuation routes and participate in emergency briefings, exercise(s) and related training.
DEFINITION
CERT – Company Emergency Response Team
EHS – Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety
ERP – Emergency Response Plan
FSM – Fire Safety Manager
HOD - Head of Department
PROCEDURE
1.Identification of Potential Accidents and Emergency Situations
1.1The HODs, Supervisors and the EHS Officer / FSM are responsible for identifying potential accidents and emergency situations which may arise from their department's activities, products and services
1.2Identification of such potential accidents and emergencies should be considered from the following:
- EHS aspects/impacts and hazards/risks
- previous incidents, accidents
- internal audits and/or safety audits
- scenario of accidental releases and discharges of hazardous chemicals, oil or other materials as a result of, for example
- lack of clear operating procedures or work instructions
- malfunction of equipment or facilities
- mistakes in the storage, handling or transport of materials
- rupture of bulk tanks, drums, containers
- scenarios of possible fires and/or explosions
Company Emergency Response Team (CERT) - Organisation and Responsibilities
The team will be composed of employees who have been appointed and have knowledge of and are trained in responding to emergencies such as fires, explosions, chemical spills, etc.
Due to the amount of training required, CERT members are required to serve at least 2 years.
Key CERT members, EHS Officer / FSM should remain contactable at all times.
Due to the inherent nature or function of certain departments where the probability of an emergency event is high, at least one representative from the department shall serve as designated members on the CERT.
Site Main Controller (SMC) – Overall-in-charge of the emergency response operations and liaises with senior officials of government agencies such as SCDF, SPF, NEA etc. Key Responsibilities include:
Co-ordinate the activities of external emergency organizations and work closely with SCDF Incident Manager at TACT HQ during consequence management.
Provide TACT HQ with the following information:
- Site Layout Map
- Building Plan
- Company Emergency Response Plan
- Company’s Hazmat inventory and location of hazmat inventory
- Overall worker population
- Incident resources available at site
c)Provide the SCDF Incident Manager with necessary information and decisions to any actions that concern the company’s SOPs and policies.
d)Authorize the shutdown of operations in the installation.
e)Authorize the release of information to the government agencies and media.
f)Assist the Incident Manager in determining the termination of the emergency and authorizing re-entry upon complete recovery.
Site Incident Controller (SIC) – usually a member of the management / supervisor in charge of or familiar with the facility. Overall-in-charge of actual ground response operations. The SIC shall provide assistance and information to SCDF Ground Commander during operation. Key responsibilities include:
- Establishing the on-site emergency response team
- Sizing up incident situation and recommending response strategy and tactical plan
- Commanding and directing response team
- Ensuring responders’ safety and monitor fatigue and stress
- Deploying emergency equipment and appliances
- Directing rescue operations if necessary
- Maintaining constant contact with SMC and responders
- Working closely with SCDF emergency officer in charge at the incident command post
- Ensuring proper decontamination of equipment and responders
- Coordinating recovery services
Fire Safety Manager (FSM) – Appointed FSM of the site. Acts as a linkup between SIC and SMC from the Fire Command Centre (FCC). The FSM is also able to provide pertinent info to the arriving SCDF Ground Commander during emergencies. Key responsibilities include:
- Update and ensure that fire safety requirements contained in organization Emergency Response Plan are complied with;
- Supervise the maintenance of all fire safety works in premise;
- Conduct checks within the premise and remove or cause to be removed any fire hazard found within the premise;
- Prepare the Emergency Response Plan and conduct emergency drills for the occupants at a frequency stipulated by the Fire Safety (Fire Safety Manager) Regulations;
- Ensure occupants are trained in fire fighting and evacuation in the event of fire;
- Supervise the operation of the FCC in the event of fire or other emergencies.
- Notify SCDF immediately upon the occurrence of any fire or other emergencies and fire related mass casualty incident in the premise.
Department Evacuation Leaders – Overall-in-charge of conducting headcount for personnel under his / her charge. Key responsibilities include:
- Facilitate smooth evacuation during emergency and drills
- Ensure that persons requiring assistance (E.g., disabled, pregnant) are escorted to the assembly area.
- Conduct headcount at Assembly Area
- Report missing persons to the HOD and Headcount Leader
- Maintain order of evacuees while at the Assembly Area
Headcount Leader – HR representative in charge of tabulating overall headcount and reporting to SMC. Key responsibilities include:
- Ensure Evacuation Staff List at the Guardroom is always updated immediately following the movement of personnel, i.e., recruitment, resignations and terminations
- Report overall evacuation headcount to SMC as well as any missing persons
Fire Fighters - Assist to extinguish controllable fires as well as rescue operations if required
Hazmat Team – Assist to stop the source of the chemical spill and clean up the spill.
First Aiders - Assist to provide First Aid to afflicted victims.
A list of the above key personnel with their contact numbers is provided in ERP
Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
The organization Emergency Response Plan is the main ERP of the organisation The ERP shall be reviewed at least once a year and be updated accordingly by the EHS Officer / FSM whenever required, for example, from the following:
- lessons learnt from drills or rehearsals
- corrective/preventive actions taken after occurrences
- changes in key personnel
- business changes
- regulatory changes
A copy of organization ERP shall be made available at the security office.
Every employee, apart from the above personnel should have easy access to the ERP.
Training Plans and Testing for Effectiveness
Training Needs for emergency preparedness and response is identified at the beginning of each Fiscal Year by the EHS Officer / FSM.
Human resource department shall arrange for CERT members with responsibilities designated in the ERP to attend training appropriate to the level of their responsibilities.
When practical, the CERT will go through drills, e.g. mock spills to test or practice the skills they learned at training.
The EHS Officer / FSM shall make arrangements to exercise the Emergency Response Plan on a regular basis:
- Table-top Exercise (Six monthly)
- Emergency Drills (Twice a year)
CERT members shall review the performance of the mock or practice drills and the EHS Officer / FSM will compile identified problems and corrective actions for improvement of the emergency response.
Results of training and testing will be subject to the Management Review process.
Emergency Incidents – Investigation and Review
Emergency incidents must be reported to the GM immediately. This primary responsibility lies with the EHS Officer / FSM. In his absence, the Deputy GM or any HOD / Supervisor shall report to the GM.
Investigation results and recommended corrective actions shall be submitted to the GM or Deputy GM. Such results are also subjected to Management Reviews.
The review conducted in particular, after the occurrence of an emergency incident, shall cover the need to revise the relevant emergency response procedure to ensure its continuing suitability, adequacy and effectiveness.
Emergency Equipment
The EHS Officer / FSM has overall responsibility over the emergency equipment in the organisation
Emergency Equipment Location
Location of Emergency Equipment are on the Emergency Equipment Maps .Emergency Equipment must be inspected according to procedure Emergency Equipment and System Inspection
Fire Exits
Each department must have at least two escape routes that are remote from each other to be used in an emergency.
Fire rated doors must not be blocked or locked to prevent emergency use when employees are within the building.
Exit routes from buildings must be clear and free of obstructions and properly marked with signs designating exits from the building.
Fire Extinguishers
Each department must have proper type of fire extinguisher for the fire hazards present.
All fire extinguishers must be strategically located and easily accessed.
Department Supervisors and designated persons are responsible in ensuring that the fire extinguishers located in their departments are inspected monthly and that such inspection records are kept and reproduced to auditors, government officers when requested.
Responsible persons shall take immediate corrective action when inspection reveals a deficiency in the fire extinguisher.
The EHS Officer / FSM is responsible for making arrangements to ensure that the fire extinguishers must be inspected and serviced periodically to ensure that the fire extinguishers are in good operating conditions.
Fire Hose Reel
All Fire Hose Reels must not be blocked at all times to allow easy access for Singapore Civil Defence Force fight-fighters.
The Fire Hose Reels must be inspected and serviced periodically to ensure that the Fire Hose Reels are in good operating condition.
Fire Alarm System
The Fire Alarm System must be tested monthly to ensure that the Fire Alarm System is in good operating condition.
Fire Sprinkler System
The Fire Sprinkler System must be inspected and serviced periodically to ensure that the Fire Sprinkler System is in good operating condition.
Fire Hydrants
All fire hydrants must not be blocked at all times to allow easy access for Singapore Civil Defence Force fire-fighters.
Spill Kits
The Supervisor of the department retaining a Spill Kit is responsible to ensure that there is adequate supply to clean up chemical spills.
Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
SCBA must be serviced annually and inspected monthly
