Guiding Procedures for Response to Emergency Situations

GUIDING PROCEDURES TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS By Maj Muhammad Ijaz Student MS Disaster Management-2012 at NUST (MCE) Introduction grammatical construction projects collect use of heavy machinery, execution of numerous graze activities simultaneously. Working surround a alike(p)(p) in Pakistan where safety culture does not prevail results in increased vulnerability to accidents thus frequent destiny situations on twist projects. The author being a Project Manager on device projects brook graveld number of compulsion situation involving loss of heart of dieer.The Safety Rules requires that the constructor sh all told establish sine qua non rejoinder subroutines for e very(prenominal) project, performance Insurance of worker is also mandatory clause of the contract system in Pakistan but normally not implemented in earn and sprite. This oblige will be useful to assist constructors in growing Emergency Response Procedures. Detailed Em ergency aim helps to minimize the tender-hearted suffering and economic losses that house result from emergencies. It should be still that the size and complexity of projects, as strong as their access and emplacement, have a bearing on the degree of patternning requirement for emergencies.It is therefore strongly recommended that the constructor visualise that a member of staff on site assist in developing the fatality brake rejoinder protrude. The supplying Process Planning shall begin before any work commences on the project. Although there whitethorn be little time between the acquaint of the contract and the start of the project, a good arrest response platform tin can be generic and, with rough minor changes, can be easily adapted to specific sites and readily implemented.This is especially the case where a constructor specializes in similar types of projects. For meaningful Development of Response Plan following considerations should be kept in intellec t 1) Identification and sagacity of take chances 2) Assessment of resources 3) Mean of discourse 4) Implementation of the platform 5) fundamental Principles 6) Sharing the Procedure 7) Post Emergency Consideration Each of these points is explained in the following sections. Identification and estimate of hazardThe process of hazard identification and appraisement involves a thorough check into that should include, but not be special to, the following points Transportation, materials handling, hoisting, equipment or product installation, temporary structures, material storage, start-up, and commissioning activities environmental concerns Consultation with the client regarding potency hazards when work in or side by side(p) to operating facilities Resources such as material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to pay back potential hazards from on-the-spot(prenominal) materials. Proximity to traffic and public ways.Because construction sites ar frequently fast-changing, the process of hazard assessment field of studyive(prenominal) be ongoing to accommodate the dynamic environment. Once hazards argon identified, the next task is to assess the potential or risk complicated in each. For each hazard identified, ask What can go wrong? What ar the consequences? For each potential hazard it is beta to station resources necessary for an appropriate emergency response. For roughly events in construction, a simple analysis based on the experience of the people involved on the project is likely sufficient.Assessment of resources It is chief(prenominal) to identify which resources argon available and have contingency plans in place to confuse up for any deficiencies. The approximately definitive resource on most projects will be a provincial rescue system like 1122. It is essential to verify that rescue system is in effect in the area. Most cities of Punjab have a 1122 system in place, but it is important to know the facilities or limitations avail able in that location. Is a high-reach rescue team up available? What is the response time? What must site military group do in the meantime?Other on-site resources such as elicit extinguishers, spills containment equipment, and runner aid kits must be maintained and clearly identified. Construction equipment may be included among potential emergency resources. Personnel, especially on-site checkup staff or workers trained in first aid, should be included in the plan. There may be situations where outside resources are so far away that an adequate response is not possible. In these situations, resources may have to be obtained and kept on site. Examples would include decamp protection or ambulance/medical resources in remote areas.Whatever the situation may be, people, equipment, facilities, and materials are needed for emergency response. Where they will come from must be determined in advance. Moreoer, the people supplying these resources must be do aware of their role in the plan. Mean of conference An important call to effective emergency response is a communications system that can relay accurate information quickly. To do this, reliable communications equipment must be used, actions developed, and personnel trained. It is a good idea to have a backup system in place, in case the ystem is rendered useless by the emergency. For example, telephone lines may be cut. The type and location of emergency communication systems must be stick on on the project. This will include location of telephones, a list of site personnel with cellular phones or bipartizan radios, and any new(prenominal) equipment available. Emergency phone numbers and the site foretell/location should be posted beside all site phones. On big sites, the location of emergency phones must be clearly marked. The poster like Emergency Response can be used to record this and early(a) information.A communication system must be made up of strategically placed equipment and properly defined responsibilities. The emergency response plan posted in a conspicuous place on the project must identify the designated equipment and the people to operate it. Implementation of the plan The task of administering and organizing the plan is vital to its effectiveness. The person who has this task will normally be the person in charge of the emergency response operation or may be assigned to Quality Control Manager (QCM).It is their task to fit that everyone clearly understands their roles and responsibilities within the emergency response plan (a chart may be helpful in this regard), that emergency resources, whether people or equipment, are kept at adequate levels in step with the progress of the project. It is very important to review the emergency plan on a level(p) root and especially after an emergency has occurred. Changes may be necessary where deficiencies became apparent as the plan went into operation. Basic Principles An emergency can be reported from any source i. e. orker on site, an outside agency, or the public. guess that circumstances may change during the course of an emergency. Any procedures you develop must be able to respond to the ongoing situation. The following list covers staple fiber actions to take in an emergency. These steps apply to almost any emergency and should be followed in sequence. Stay calm. Assess the situation. Take command. Provide protection. attend and manage. swear contacts. Guide emergency function. Stay calm Your example can influence others and thereby aid the emergency response.Assess the situation Determine what happened and what the emergency is. Look at the big picture. What has happened to whom and what will continue to happen if no action is taken? Try to identify the cause that must be affirmled to eliminate immediate, ongoing, or elevate danger. Take command The most senior(a) person on the scene should take charge and call, or set apart someone to call, emergency services and explain the situation. Assign tasks for controlling the emergency. This action also helps to maintain order and prohibit panic.Provide protection Eliminate further losses and safeguard the area. Control the energy source causing the emergency. foster victims, equipment, materials, environment, and accident scene from continuing damage or further hazards. romp traffic, suppress fire, prevent objects from falling, shut down equipment or utilities, and take other necessary measures. Preserve the accident scene only disturb what is essential to maintain life or relieve human suffering and prevent immediate or further losses. Aid and manage Provide first aid or help those already doing so. Manage personnel at the scene.Organize the workforce for both a headcount and emergency assignments. Direct all workers to a safe location or command post. This makes it easier to identify the missing, control panic, and assign people to emergency duties. Dispatch personnel to guide emergency ser vices on arrival. Maintain contact Keep emergency services informed of situation. Contact utilities such as SNGPL, SSGPL, Electric Supply and so forth where required. Alert management and keep them informed. Exercise increasing control over the emergency until immediate hazards are controlled or eliminated and causes can be identified.Guide Emergency Services Meet services on site. Lead them to emergency scene. rationalize ongoing and potential hazards and cause(s), if known. Sharing the Procedure To be effective, an Emergency Response Procedure must be clearly communicated to all site personnel. The following activities should be considered Share the procedure with new site subcontractors and new workers to ensure that it covers their activities adequately. Share the procedure with suppliers to ensure that it covers any hazards that the storage or speech communication of their materials might create. Share new work areas in operating plants with possessor/client to ensure th at new hazards are identified and covered in the procedure. Share the procedure with the Joint Health and Safety Committee or Health and Safety Representative on a regular basis to address new hazards or significant changes in site conditions. abode the procedure in a conspicuous location. The Emergency Response Procedure for a construction project must continually undergo review and revision to meet changing conditions. Post Emergency ConsiderationThe recovery process, or what happens after the emergency response has been completed, is a captious step in the plan. Many emergency tasks may be handled by people who are not accustomed to dealing with emergencies. People may have seen their work partners and friends badly injured and suffering great pain. Once the emergency is over, the military strength should not be Okay, lets get back to work or Lets go home. Some of the people involved may need assistance in order to recover. In some cases professional counselling may be need ed.As part of site emergency think, construction companies should have measures in place to deal with post-traumatic stress. Local hospitals, ambulance services, and medical practitioners may be able to help. Debriefing is necessary to review how well the plan worked in the emergency and to correct any deficiencies that were identified. Debriefing is critical to the success of future emergency response planning. Conclusion Slow response, wishing of resources, or the absence of trained personnel will lead to funny farm in an emergency.To minimize human suffering and financial losses, all personnel must know their responsibilities under the emergency response plan. Remember planning for emergencies should include the following points 1) hazard identification/assessment 2) emergency resources 3) communication systems 4) administration of the plan 5) emergency response procedure 6) communication of the procedure 7) debriefing and post-traumatic stress procedure. The plan should be u sed to set emergency procedures, implement and communicate the procedures, and ensure that any required training has been completed.The plan should also be evaluated regularly to ensure that it conforms to current operations and conditions. In any Emergency Response Procedure, the following steps are radical and essential Stay calm. Assess the situation. Take command. Provide protection. Aid and manage. Maintain contact. Guide emergency services. Reader must keep in mind that these are generalized rule of thumbs/procedure and not itself an Emergency Response Plan. The plan should be formulated keeping the specific conditions of the project in mind.Though these guideline/procedures are prepared for the professional involved in construction project, nonetheless these may serve as useful basis for Emergency Managers working in related sectors like manufacturing plants, quarry sites etc. References Write a manuscript (term-paper) on any article related to disaster response and recovery. Last date of submission is31 March 2012. But disport must take into an account the following points, while writing the article. The term-paper is an important part of the academic. The article must be in the lines of the course/subject parameter, i. . , Disaster Response and Recovery The article must be of 7-10 pages. enjoy dont expand it by giving unnecessary discussion, be brief and to the point. The article must be supported by at least 12 references at the end of the manuscript which should be arrange in alphabetic order, according to the given style For Journal Articles figure of speech of authors, (year), deed of conveyance of the article/paper, Journal, volume, page, ISSN For Book/Thesis Articles Name of authors, (year), Title of the book/thesis, (Publishers) For Conference ProceedingsName of authors, (year with month), Title of the article/paper (Conference theme) For Web-page Articles (Complete site detail, with date and time) For citation, please follow the given operating instructions For one author, (Ali, 2012) For two authors, (Ali and Usman, 2012) For three or more, (Ali et al. 2012) OVery important point The Similarity Index (plagiarism check) mustnot exceed 15%. In case of more than 15% the article will be rejected and ZERO marks will be award for this activity. uncorrupted luck, wish you all the best ARSHAD