Imagine this…
Ammonia gas (toxic and corrosive) is leaking from an abattoir’s refrigeration system, and a contractor has been injured. The fire brigade has just arrived on site, and is about to be briefed by a site representative.
At this point, consider how a similar situation might be handled at your dangerous goods site.
- Would your site be in chaos, controlled by fear and uncertainty?
- Or would an effective emergency response already be underway?
Back at our hypothetical emergency, the site rep is giving the Fire Officer a masterclass in emergency response. The briefing goes something like this:
“Good morning.
We are experiencing an uncontrolled leak of ammonia in Coolroom 1, and have isolated the leaking pipe’s inlet valve. The refrigeration compressor is still running, which is drawing ammonia out of the leaking pipe.
Also, we have a contractor who has received ammonia burns to his arms; he has been decontaminated, and moved to the site 1st aid post to await an ambulance. There are no other known injuries at this stage.
We have evacuated all personnel from our buildings, and they are currently located at Muster Point North (there is a northerly breeze), awaiting further instruction. We are in contact with the neighbouring factory to our south, and they have taken shelter in their office, with doors and windows closed.
We need your assistance to establish a water spray onto the leaking pipe, to help absorb the leaking ammonia.
Can you please take your appliance to our emergency control centre (site rep shows points to the location on the dangerous goods site plan), where we have the Incident Manager and a Technical Adviser who can provide you further details. We also have two refrigeration mechanics with chemical suits donned, ready to assist”.
What happens next…
Fire Officers often spend precious minutes before commencing a Hazmat job, trying to find someone in charge, sifting through outdated emergency plans, trying to understand the hazards presented by the dangerous goods, switching off site power/gas and so on.
But this site is different. Having attended several emergency drills at the abattoir, our Fire Officer is familiar with the site, and trusts the site’s Incident Manager.
After a short discussion with the Incident Manager, the fire brigade gets to work.
Meanwhile, the refrigeration compressor is still running, keeping unaffected coolrooms at temperature and thereby preventing unnecessary stock loss (a detail often overlooked in emergency plans, but somewhat important).
Relevant to all DG sites (lessons learnt)
We’ve used an ammonia leak for our hypothetical scenario, but the lessons learnt in this scenario are equally applicable to any dangerous goods site in an emergency:
- Regular and meaningful emergency drills meant that site staff were trained, and had the confidence to handle credible emergencies.
- Emergency response planning and detailed procedures enabled an immediate and effective emergency response:
- Roles and responsibilities for site staff were clearly defined (site rep, Incident Manager, Technical Advisor, refrigeration mechanics).
- The hazard (leaking ammonia pipe) was isolated, and steps taken to control the hazard (the compressor was used to drain the leaking pipe).
- Non-essential staff were evacuated correctly (an upwind muster point), and neighbours notified.
- The injured person was cared for effectively (decontaminated to prevent further injury, moved to a safe place, ready for an ambulance).
- When the fire brigade arrived, no time was wasted:
- A clear and concise situation report was given – nature of emergency, actions already taken, what was needed.
- The site plan (layout drawing) was up to date and accurate, with a clear description of hazards and other important site features.
- Participation in emergency drills meant the site was familiar to the fire brigade.
Achieving excellence
Emergency response effectiveness is not rocket surgery. It just takes a little commitment from management, and engagement from all.
Why not start with this simple mini-audit of your site’s emergency response:
- Hazmat box at the site entrance, with emergency documents inside:
- Emergency response plan.
- A site plan or layout, showing buildings, hazards/dangerous goods, fire hydrants, access points etc.
- Safety Data Sheets.
- Emergency response plan (ERP) is fit for purpose:
- Detailed response procedures for credible emergencies.
- ERP effectiveness is meaningfully reviewed, at least once a year.
- Periodic emergency drills:
- Drills involve the local fire station, to build a rapport with Fire Officers and inject realism.
- Realistic simulated emergencies, for site personnel to practice their skills.
- The sites emergency resources (hydrants, extinguishers, spill kits etc) are tested and used.
- A pre-incident preparation regime is in place for high risk work, so if an emergency does occur it will be anticipated. The response will be confident and immediate:
- The emergency manager is notified prior to high risk work commencing.
- The emergency manager is on standby until the high risk phase is completed – no meetings or phone calls, and the ERP is on their desk (important).
- Communication is maintained between the emergency manager and the work team, until the high risk work is finished.
How does your site stack up?
If your emergency response needs improvement, there are plenty of resources online, including guidance from AS3745 (Emergency Planning).
If you get stuck, contact Atomic DG via email or phone, for personalised expert assistance with your emergency planning.
