Function: Life Safety
Protecting the health and safety of everyone in the facility is the first priority during an emergency.
Function: Life Safety
- Evacuation Planning
- Evacuation Routes and Exits
- Assembly Areas and Accountability
- Shelter
- Training and Information
- Family Preparedness
Other Functions
- Function: Direction and Control
- Function: Communications
- Function: Property Protection
- Function: Community Outreach
- Function: Recovery and Restoration
- Function: Administration and Logistics
Evacuation Planning
One common means of protection is evacuation. In the case of fire, an immediate evacuation to a predetermined area away from the facility may be necessary. In a hurricane, evacuation could involve the entire community and take place over a period of days.
To develop an evacuation policy and procedure:
- Determine the conditions under which an evacuation would be necessary.
- Establish a clear chain of command. Identify personnel with the authority to order an evacuation. Designate "evacuation wardens" to assist others in an evacuation and to account for personnel.
- Establish specific evacuation procedures. Establish a system for accounting for personnel. Consider employees' transportation needs for community-wide evacuations.
- Establish procedures for assisting persons with disabilities and those who do not speak English.
- Post evacuation procedures.
- Designate personnel to continue or shut down critical operations while an evacuation is underway. They must be capable of recognizing when to abandon the operation and evacuate themselves.
- Coordinate plans with the local emergency management office.
A gas explosion and fire in a nursing home caused the evacuation of all patients, most of whom were disabled. Because the staff had trained for this scenario, all patients were evacuated safely.
Evacuation Routes and Exits
Designate primary and secondary evacuation routes and exits. Have them clearly marked and well lit. Post signs.
Install emergency lighting in case a power outage occurs during an evacuation.
Ensure that evacuation routes and emergency exits are:
- Wide enough to accommodate the number of evacuating personnel
- Clear and unobstructed at all times
- Unlikely to expose evacuating personnel to additional hazards
- Have evacuation routes evaluated by someone not in your organization.
Assembly Areas and Accountability
Obtaining an accurate account of personnel after a site evacuation requires planning and practice.
Designate assembly areas where personnel should gather after evacuating.
Take a head count after the evacuation. The names and last known locations of personnel not accounted for should be determined and given to the EOC. (Confusion in the assembly areas can lead to unnecessary and dangerous search and rescue operations.)
Establish a method for accounting for non-employees such as suppliers and customers.
Establish procedures for further evacuation in case the incident expands. This may consist of sending employees home by normal means or providing them with transportation to an off-site location.
Search and rescue should be conducted only by properly trained and equipped professionals. Death or serious injury can occur when untrained employees reenter a damaged or contaminated facility.
Shelter
In some emergencies, the best means of protection is to take shelter either within the facility or away from the facility in a public building.
Consider the conditions for taking shelter, e.g., tornado warning.
Identify shelter space in the facility and in the community. Establish procedures for sending personnel to shelter.
Determine needs for emergency supplies such as water, food and medical supplies.
Designate shelter managers, if appropriate.
Coordinate plans with local authorities.
Training and Information
Train employees in evacuation, shelter and other safety procedures. Conduct sessions at least annually or when:
- Employees are hired
- Evacuation wardens, shelter managers and others with special assignments are designated
- New equipment, materials or processes are introduced
- Procedures are updated or revised
- Exercises show that employee performance must be improved
Provide emergency information such as checklists and evacuation maps.
Post evacuation maps in strategic locations.
Consider the information needs of customers and others who visit the facility.
Consider how you would access important personal information about employees (home phone, next-of-kin, medical) in an emergency. Storing information on computer disks or in sealed envelopes are two options.
Family Preparedness
Consider ways to help employees prepare their families for emergencies. This will increase their personal safety and help the facility get back up and running. Those who are prepared at home will be better able to carry out their responsibilities at work.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 21-Mar-2006 08:36:42 EST