OHS Assignment V9

EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PLAN
DECEMBER 2016
EDITION 14
FIRE PREPAREDNESS
ZAMM SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING LTD.

WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY?
An emergency is any sudden set of
circumstances that require an immediate
action (Kelloway, Francis & Gatien, 2014).
Emergencies can be either
naturally occurring or the
result of man-made decisions.
While the probability of these
disasters happening may be
low, organizations must be fully
equipped to effectively handle
emergency situations if they
were to emerge. As Wiercinski
(2013) notes, effective
JASON RUBIO
emergency planning is
accessible and achievable for
all.

3 TYPES OF EMERGENCIES
Naturally-occurring
emergencies can include
weather disasters such as:
· Flooding
· Blizzards
· Snow
JASON RUBIO
Man-made emergencies can
include disasters such as:
· Oil Spills
· Workplace Violence
· Fires
Technological emergencies can
include such disasters as:
· Telecommunications JASON failures RUBIO
· Electrical power loss
· Cyberterroism

BENEFITS OF AN EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PLAN
Although many organizations focus on
how they will respond during an
emergency, true emergency planning
also includes anticipating emergencies,
planning for emergencies, executing
the plan when needed, getting back to
work and refining the plan in the light
of new learning (Kelloway et al., 2011).
Having a plan ready in case of an
emergency can lessen the impact of
the incident. According to Pearson et
al. (1997) step two of the five-stage
crisis management process is
preparation, which involves the
creation of a response plan (Pearson et
al., 1997).
It is important for businesses to have a
disaster recovery plan in the event of a
disaster.
This typically includes a formally
drafted plan of detailed steps to be
taken after a disaster occurs, along
with contact information for
employees, contacts and vendors,
alternative locations for conducting
business, and critical resources that
need to be recovered (Polygon, 2016).
JASON RUBIO
DO YOU KNOW . . .
According to Zhou et al. (2008), having an
emergency response plan specifically
designed for fire disasters can help
people save their own lives.
Your Fire Department’s
emergency number?
Your fire escape plan?
Your designated meeting
place in the event of a fire?
Who your floor fire
emergency officer is?
The location of the nearest
fire extinguisher?
The location of the nearest
fire alarm station?
The location of the nearest
two exits?
Who needs assistance in
the event of an emergency?
(Fire Prevention Canada,
2016)

PRE-
CONTACT
STAGE

ORGANIZATIONAL CHECK LIST
Know your region and the types of disaster most likely to
impact your business
Assess the capacity of employees in preparing and
responding for an emergency
Identify internal/external emergency response resources
that will provide assistance during the emergency
Identify plan for employees, vendors and customers if the
business were to shut down for a few days
Identify a First Aid team
JASON RUBIO
Obtain necessary safety equipment
Write a plan for responding to emergencies
Develop a Business Continuity Plan

SUPPLIES
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Perhaps the most commonly thought of tool in fire safety are fire extinguishers.
However, it is important to note that the size and nature of your business may determine
the type and number of extinguishers you will need. For example, ‘there are three basic
classes of fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers must be labeled to show the class of fire
they can extinguish.
CLASS A
CLASS B CLASS C
ORDINARY
COMBUSTIBLES
SUCH AS PAPER,
WOOD, RUBBISH,
DRAPES AND
UPHOLSTERY.
FLAMMABLE
LIQUIDS SUCH AS
GASOLINE, OILS,
SOLVENTS, PAINTS
AND FLAMMABLE
GASES.
FLAMMABLE GASES
SUCH AS PROPANE,
BUTANE, METHANE
ETC
CLASS D CLASS E CLASS F
METALS SUCH
AS ALUMINIUM,
MAGNESIUM,
TITANIUM ETC
FIRES
INVOLVING
JASON RUBIO
ELECTRICAL
APPARATUS
COOKING OIL &
FAT ETC
ALTHOUGH YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD
DEFINITELY USE IT. ONLY FIGHT A FIRE IF:
THE FIRE IS SMALL AND NOT SPREADING
OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN ALERTED
EVERYONE HAS LEFT OR IS LEAVING THE BUILDING
HELP HAS BEEN CALLED
YOU HAVE A CLEAR ESCAPE ROUTE THAT WON'T BE BLOCKED BY FIRE
YOU KNOW HOW TO OPERATE YOUR EXTINGUISHER AND ARE AWARE OF ITS CAPABILITIES
Don't fight a fire in any other circumstance. Leave the premises immediately, close off
the area and call 9-1-1 from a neighbour's home.
It is important for businesses to have a disaster recovery plan in the event of a disaster.

SMOKE DETECTORS
SUPPLIES
It is also important to consider smoke detectors and how to properly
locate and install them. According to Fire Prevention Canada, the
following should be done …
Keep alarms at least 60 cm (2 feet) from any Read and follow the manufacturer’s
corner
instructions carefully
Do not recess smoke alarms in walls or
For best performance, an alarm should be
ceilings
mounted on the ceiling in or near the
Smoke alarms in rooms with ceiling slopes
centre of the room, hall or stairway, and
greater than 30 cm (one foot) rise per 2.4 m at the head of each stairway leading to an
(eight feet) horizontally should be located JASON RUBIO occupied area
on the high side of the room
Optimum location for wall mounts is at
Avoid locating an alarm at the peak of an
least 15 cm (6 inches) from the ceiling but
“A” frame type ceiling
not more than 30 cm (19 inches) from it
Never paint a smoke alarm
Avoid installing where the temperature
Keep alarms 60 to 90 cm (two to three feet) is less than 5oC (41oF) or exceeds 48oC
away from light fixtures
(119oF)
Test your fire alarm monthly and clean it
Keep alarms away from doors and
every six months
windows
Never locate an alarm in front of an air
register, fans or vents

FIRE WARDENS & DRILLS
It is important to remember to contact the appropriate authority members should an emergency
occur. Legal requirements may apply to certain organizations such as notifying the Ministry of
Labour, Police, Fire Department, etc. It is important to know phone numbers and contact
information for emergency response units, especially if organizations fall outside the 911
emergency system. Additionally, it is crucial to be familiar with outside resources and contact
information for organizations such as the red cross and emergency relief programs.
Fire wardens are essential roles within an organization that can help minimize the risk of danger
and damage during a fire or emergency. Their primary responsibilities are to assist in the
implementation of safety work practices, monitor potential hazards, to lead fire drills and assist
with evacuation should an emergency occur, and ensure all workers are accounted for.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of legislature regarding specific requirements of fire wardens,
therefor making their roles and requirements different and subjective for each organization.
JASON RUBIO
Fire drills should be performed regularly as well as unannounced.
Rehearsals are an important part of training and add a practical
and truly situational element to fire preparedness. Simulating
disasters will help employees effectively deal with real
emergencies. Drills help to test the responsive capabilities of an
organization. Evaluation of a fire drill can be conducted by
examining such factors as: Reporting, Initial Actions, Mustering
and Preparation, First-Aid Capabilities, and Use of Fire
Extinguishing Systems (Fu, J., Jin, Y,. & Wu, J., 2014). Additionally,
the fire drill can also be evaluated on evacuation times and head

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
There are four key considerations to make when designing a
emergency response plan with respect to fire prevention and
preparation: Structural Design, Barriers, Detection and
Suppression, Storage.
Structural Design: the standards and
building designs required by provincial and
federal fire codes and other regulations.
The overall design of a building can impact
how quickly a fire is able to spread.
Barriers: Specific fire barriers should be
well maintained to ensure effectiveness in
an emergency. Additionally, walls and
floors constructed of nonflammable
materials such a concrete can serve as
barriers to fires.
Detection and Suppression: Most commonly
JASON RUBIO
found as smoke and heat detector systems
in buildings. These systems are often linked
to and can trigger sprinkler systems and
alter local fire departments of potential
fires.
Storage: Items and materials that are highly
combustible or flammable should be stored
away from potential sources of fires, highrisk
areas, and from exits to ensure
evacuations routes are not inhibited

CONTACT
STAGE

FIRE CONTACT
A Fire is a chemical process in which fuel, oxygen, and heat combine
to create a disastrous condition. The products of fire are gases, flame,
heat, and smoke.
JASON RUBIO

EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Emergency First Aid and Medical Attention
If an emergency were to happen, organizations must have the proper first
aid procedures to address any incidents that can occur. The necessary first
aid will vary based upon the nature of the emergency along with the type
and size of the organization.
To best prepare an organization, management must:
· Ensure employees are trained in first aid/CPR
· Ensure that fire extinguishers are available on site
JASON RUBIO
RELEVANT EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION
Emergency Response: 9-1-1
Canadian Red Cross: (709) 758-8400
CEP Emergency Response - St. John's Campus: 864-4100
St. John's Regional Fire Department: (709) 758-3229
St John Ambulance: (709) 726-4200
*If located outside St. John's, please contact your local emergency services*

POST-
CONTACT
STAGE

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
Critical Incident: any situation or event faced by emergency, public safety personnel or
employees causing a distressing, dramatic or profound change in their physical
(physiological) or psychological functioning.
After a critical incident, psychological reactions are very common and predictable.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is a valuable tool following a life-threatening
event.
Two components of CISD: Defusing and Debriefing
Debriefing allows those involved with the incident to process the event and reflect on
its impact.
Defusing: allows ventilation of emotions and thoughts associated with the crisis event
No longer than the first 24-72 hours after initial impact of critical event, least effective
as length of time increases.
JASON RUBIO

EVACUATION PLAN

REFERENCES
City of Toronto. 2016. Fire Extinguishers. Retrieved from http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?
vgnextoid=0d81a069d81f1410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=e1df3840456e1410VgnVCM1000
0071d60f89RCRD
Davis, J. A. (2013, February 12). Critical incident stress debriefing from a traumatic
event. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/crimes-and- misdemeanors/201302/critical-incidentstress-debriefing-traumatic-event
Fire Prevention Canada. (2016). Fire Escape Plan. Retrieved from
http://www.fiprecan.ca/fire-escape-plan/
Fire Prevention Canada. (2016). Smoke Alarms. Retrieved from
http://www.fiprecan.ca/smoke-alarms/
Fu J, Wu J., Jin Y. (2014). Effectiveness Evaluation on Fire Drills for Emergency and
PSC Inspections on Board. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation,
8(2), pp. 229-236
Kelloway, E., Francis, L., Gatien, B. (2011). Management of Occupational Health and
Safety. United States of America: Nelson Education Series.
Payant, R. (2016) Emergency Management for Facility and Property Managers.
New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Pearson, C., Misra, S., Clair, J., Mitroff, I. (1997). Managing the Unthinkable.
Organizational Dynamics.Vol. 26(2), pp.51-64. DOI: 10.1016/S0090-2616(97)90005-X
Small Business Fire Damage Recovery Plans. (2016). Polygon. Retrieved from
http://www.polygongroup.com/en-US/blog/small-business-fire-damage-recovery-plas/
The American National Red Cross. (2009). Get started: Emergency preparedness
checklist for small businesses. Retrieved from United States Department of Labor Retrieved from :
https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy07/sh- 16618-07/sm_business_emergency_checklist.pdf
Weekes, J. (2014, August 7). 7 Key Duties of a Fire Warden. Retrieved from
http://www.healthandsafetyhandbook.com.au/7-key-duties-of-a-fire-warden/
Wiercinski, A.K. (2013) Emergency Planning and Response for Libraries, Archives
and Museums. Australian Academic & Research Libraries. 44(3), 181-182. doi: 10.1080/00048623/2013/817282
Zhou, S., Zhang, T., Qin, H. (2008). The Fire Emergency Response Plan Simulation Based
on Particle System. Intelligent Networks and Intelligent Systems. DOI: 10.1109/ICINIS.2008.120