Code of Practice - Workplace Safety and Health Council

SECTION 6:
EMERGENCY AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING
6.1 General
6.1.1 All lifting operations shall have a documented Emergency Response Procedure (ERP) that
covers all aspects of the operations. The ERP identifies in a clear and precise manner the
requirements and actions to be carried out for any foreseeable emergency (with or without any
casualty). These include:
• toppling of the lifting equipment;
• structural failure of the lifting equipment such as boom fracture;
• dislodgement of the suspended load;
• entanglement of load with nearby structures; and
• recovery of injured personnel in locations where access is limited such as within a tower
crane.
6.1.2 The ERP must include the emergency contact details of relevant persons and agencies. The
contingency procedure should outline all possible emergency situations and identify the recovery
actions to be taken if they occur.
6.1.3 The documented procedures shall be tested by conducting ERP drills involving all lifting
operation personnel. Such ERP drills must be documented and recorded as part of the safe system for
work. The drills may be conducted as a desk top review which includes all relevant personnel in the
table top exercise. However, a physical exercise and drill should be carried out whenever possible.
6.2 Emergency Response Procedures
6.2.1 The contractor shall develop and document an ERP for the lifting operation. This ERP must be
communicated to all personnel involved in the lift and made available at prominent locations at the
workplace. The ERP shall include but not be limited to:
• details of emergency personnel and their contacts including first-aiders;
• emergency communication flowchart;
• roles and responsibilities of the emergency management team;
• emergency services contact details;
• managing injured persons; and
• frequency of exercise and drill to be carried out.
6.2.2 Lifting operations may be carried out from the ground level or at a high point such as on the
top of a multi-storey building or in confined areas such as in a tunnel or factory. Each location provides
specific challenges for the provision of medical and evacuation support. As such, the ERP should as
much as possible identify access to the location so as to facilitate expeditious medical and evacuation
support.
Page 25 of 38