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Emergency

Archived Posts from this Category

Thu 14 Aug 2008

USING THE ERG

Posted by Allan under Safety , US DOT , Training , Hazardous Materials , Transportation , Emergency , First Responders , Quiz , Emergency Response , Hazardous Waste , Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration , Hazmat
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2008 ERG.pngRecently, Chuck Armstrong, Safety Manager for the City of Chicago, sent me a website to check out.  This short video http://www.hazmatsolutions.net/erg/ explains how to use an Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).   Click on the quiz at the end of the presentation to test your knowledge.  

This video can also be used a part of a training class if your safety department is involved with hazardous materials.   

Thanks for passing this information to our readers.  If you have anything like this (which is not a commercial) let us know and we will give everyone the information to use.

 


Thu 3 Jul 2008

Hazmat Survival Tips Article

Posted by Allan under Safety , Compliance , US DOT , Hazardous Materials , OSHA , Emergency , First Responders , Emergency Response , Hazardous Waste , Hazmat
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Emergency Vehicle.pngI recently became aware of a journal (Fire Engineering) that has a variety of articles about fire, hazmat and safety. One the articles that came to my attention was by Steven M. De Lisi.   Mr. De Lisi retired after a fire service career spanning 27 years that included serving as a regional training manager for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) and most recently as the deputy chief for the Virginia Air Guard Fire Rescue.

His article, Hazmat Survival Tips: 10 Common Errors Committed During Incidents  addresses issues First Responders have dealing with a hazardous incident.  Today many companies have HazWoper trained personnel, many who might also find some interesting information within this article.  Hazardous incidents are becoming more common as more and more hazardous materials are being transported throughout the United States.  Companies need to make sure they are in compliance with both the US DOT (49 CFR parts 100-185) and OSHA (29CFR part 120).

 

 


Tue 1 Apr 2008

New CPR Method Reported in The CRCenter In 2007

Posted by Allan under Safety , Compliance , The Compliance Resource Center , Training , Emergency , non-profits , News , First Aid/CPR/AED , First Responders , American Heart Association , CPR
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CPR Training.pngThe American Heart Assoication is adapting a new standard for CPR.  On March 31, an important advisory statement on “hands-only”  (compression-only) CPR was published in Circulation. This statement clarifies the 2005 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC, which included the recommendation that laypersons – or bystanders – should perform hands-only CPR if they are unable or unwilling to provide rescue breaths.  The Compliance Resource Center wrote about an article about a new study done in Lancet in April of 2007.  The Lancet study showed dramatic results when life-savers only had to worry about chest compressions without doing mouth-to-mouth breathing. 

”The report confirms that what we have learned in animal experiments applies to humans as well,” says Gordon A. Ewy, MD, director of the Sarver Heart Center at The University of Arizona in Tucson where chest-compression-only resuscitation was developed. “Bystander-initiated continuous chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth breathing are the preferable approach for witnessed unexpected collapse, which is usually due to cardiac arrest.”

Hopefully more people will consider doing CPR (compression only) on a person when needed.  Statistics show that when CPR is started and continued until help arrives, it can save lives.

 


Fri 29 Feb 2008

Exit Routes and Emergency Action Plans (1910.33)

Posted by Allan under Safety , Compliance , Training , OSHA , Emergency , Fire Safety , Emergency Planning , American Red Cross , Policies & Procedures , Workplace Safety
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Exit Sign.png One of the most common questions I get asked about is Exits Routes (Means of Egress) and Emergency Action Plans.  These two are synergistic with each other.  A good Emergency Action Plan should include all exit routes.  Too often we hear of employees getting injured or dying in an emergency situation.  Proper planning and training can help eliminate many of these incidents. 
 

 Below are some of the highlights of OSHA requirements for Exit Routes and Emergency Action Plans.
Exit Routes (1910.34 - .37) 

OSHA has specific requirements for design and construction of exit routes that include:

  • Exit rout must be permanent
  • Exits must be separated by fire resistant materials
  • Openings must be protected by a self-closing fire door
  • There must be a minimum of two (2) exits in the workplace

Exits MUST discharge to the outside or a space with access to the outside.  The exit should always remain unlocked.  Exit routes should be a minimum of 7 feet 6 inches high and 28 inches wide.  Exit signs should be clearly marked and illuminated, that can be seen by normal vision. 
 Emergency Action Plans (1910.38)
Workplaces with 10 or more employees must have a WRITTEN Emergency Action Plan that is available for employees to review.  The plan must include the following:

  • Procedure for report emergency
  • Procedure for emergency evacuation
  • Procedure for employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate
  • Procedure to account for all employees
  • Procedures for employees performing rescue or medical duties


The workplace MUST have an alarm system that complies with 1910.165.  An employer MUST designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees.  Every employee MUST be trained on the Emergency Action Plan.
It is recommend that employers practice the Emergency Action Plan at least twice during the year.  Once when employees know in advance and once without prior notification.  The fire department should always be aware of your practice schedule.  Both the fire department and your insurance vendor will assist you in inspecting the workplace to make sure it complies with regulations. 
The Red Cross and others have Emergency Kits available.  They have small inexpensive Safety Tube that includes, a mask, whistle, light stick and water pouch.  This Safety Tube should be given to all employees, to keep at their workstation.  Making sure the Exit Routes are unobstructed and your Emergency Action Plan is practiced can help save lives.    

 


Tue 11 Dec 2007

Winter Driving, Revisited

Posted by Allan under Safety , Transportation , Emergency , non-profits , Emergency Planning , Driver Safety , FEMA
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Back in Nov of 2006 I published this article.  Driving incidents are the number 1 cause of employee injury today, and with the weather we are currently having, I think it is important to revisit the article again. 

 

winter driving.png 

Winter Car Kit

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, about 70 percent of winter deaths related to snow and ice occur in automobiles. When driving in such conditions is necessary, the agency recommends traveling in daylight and not traveling alone, keeping others notified of your schedule, and staying on main roads. In addition to winterizing your vehicle mechanically and keeping its gas tank full, FEMA advises carrying the following items in the vehicle’s trunk:

  • Shovel
  • Windshield scraper
  • Battery-powered radio
  • Flashlight
  • Extra batteries
  • Water
  • Snack food
  • Mittens
  • Hat
  • Blanket
  • Tow chain or rope
  • Tire chains
  • Bag of road salt and sand
  • Fluorescent distress flag
  • Booster cables
  • Road maps
  • Emergency flares
  • Cell phone or two-way radio

Source: FEMA

 


Wed 19 Sep 2007

Emergency Preparedness Be Ready

Posted by Allan under Safety , NFPA , Emergency , non-profits , First Aid/CPR/AED , Fire Safety , Emergency Planning , Emergency Response , American Red Cross
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QUINCY, MA — The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests that now is the perfect time to Get Ready! for a disaster.

September is National Preparedness Month and NFPA is urging the public to take time this month to prepare for a disaster before one strikes.

Get Ready! Preparing Your Community for a Disaster is a comprehensive disaster preparedness guide developed by NFPA to make the daunting task of preparing for the unknown more manageable. The kit was recently sent to 30,000 fire departments across the country as a resource for them to help their community prepare. Materials are also available for download at no charge. Most materials are also available in Spanish.

“Preparing yourself, your family, and your community for the unexpected can be a frightening endeavor, but being caught unprepared in the face of disaster can prove to be deadly,” said Judy Comoletti, assistant vice president of public education for NFPA. “The Get Ready! program is designed to help people develop their emergency plan by putting much needed informational materials at their fingertips.”

Disastrous events in recent years have served as reminders that there is no single preparedness tool more important than a plan. Get Ready!  Preparing Your Community for a Disaster provides a foundation for understanding what to do, where to go, and how to survive in a disaster. Informational sheets provide guidance on what to do before, during, and after an incident on the following topics: home fires, blackouts, hurricanes, landslides, thunderstorms, tornadoes, earthquakes, national security, volcanoes, extreme heat, nuclear incidents, wildfires, floods, older adults, winter storms, hazardous materials, people with disabilities, and pets. The guide also provides a lesson plan and presentation materials, making conducting a workshop easy. A family emergency plan is available for download as well as an emergency supplies kit checklist.

Get Ready! Preparing Your Community for a Disaster was developed by NFPA for fire departments nationwide. The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness.

NFPA suggests the following tips to keep in mind when preparing for a disaster. Visit www.nfpa.org/disaster for more detailed information.

How to prepare before a disaster:

  • Be informed
  • Make a plan
  • Get a kit
  • Volunteer to help others

Have an emergency plan that includes:

  • Escape and evacuation routes
  • Family communications
  • Utility shut-off and safety
  • Vital records
  • Specific needs
  • Caring for animals
  • Safety skills

Get an emergency supplies kit that at a minimum includes:

  • Bottled water: A minimum three-day supply of water. A seven-day supply is best, with a three-day supply ready to take with you. One gallon of water per person, per day is recommended.
  • Food: Avoid foods that cause thirst. Include canned foods, dry mixes, and other nonperishable food. Remember to include a hand can opener.
  • A battery-powered radio with extra batteries or a hand-crank radio
  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Sanitation and hygiene items
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • A whistle
  • Extra clothing
  • Cooking utensils
  • Photocopies of credit and identification cards
  • Cash
  • Items for infants
  • Specific needs items
  • A personal pack for children
  • Download an emergency supplies kit checklist
 


Tue 21 Aug 2007

OSHA Cites Army Corps of Engineers

Posted by Allan under Safety , Compliance , Health , Training , Hazardous Materials , OSHA , Emergency , Environment , Policies & Procedures
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OSHA Cites Army Corps of Engineers for Inadequate Safeguards against Ammonia Release

Now this is a new one for me.  I don’t think I have ever heard of yhe Army Corps of Engineers being cited.  Has anyone else.?  Read below
Inadequate and incomplete safeguards against ammonia releases at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hanover, N.H., Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory have resulted in the issuance of four willful notices of unsafe and unhealthful working conditions by OSHA.

The Corps was cited for violations of OSHA’s Process Safety Management standard, which is designed to prevent or minimize the catastrophic release of large amounts of highly hazardous chemicals – in this case, 17,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia used in the refrigeration system for the laboratory’s ice engineering facility.

Among other things, the standard requires employers to compile written safety information and operating procedures for, and conduct hazard analyses of, the process, equipment and technology using the chemicals; develop clear operating procedures; train employees; ensure the mechanical integrity of the equipment used in the process; and evaluate compliance with process safety requirements every three years.

An inspection by OSHA’s Concord area office found that the Hanover facility failed to collect and update all process safety information; complete, update, maintain and follow through on all process hazard analyses; maintain complete, certified and up-to-date written operating procedures; provide adequate employee training; inspect or test piping and other process equipment; maintain written procedures to manage any changes to the process; document corrective actions taken after a previous ammonia release; and certify that compliance audits were conducted every three years.

“The potential for a release of ammonia is present as long as these and other proper safeguards are not established, followed, and maintained,” said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA’s area director for New Hampshire. “In this case, management knew for several years that all these requirements were not being met yet did not correct the hazards. Prompt and complete correction is required and must be a priority.”

As a federal agency, the Corps must notify OSHA of corrective actions taken and may, within 15 days, schedule a meeting with the OSHA area director to discuss the violation notices, methods of correction, length of abatement periods and interim protective measures for employees. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

 


Tue 17 Jul 2007

Red Cross “Be Ready for Disaster Planning”

Posted by Allan under Safety , Health , Training , Emergency , non-profits , First Aid/CPR/AED , Emergency Planning , Emergency Response , American Red Cross
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The American Red Cross has an online preparedness plan with can be accessed by clicking on this link.  This is perfect for your employees, their families and friends.

 


Thu 12 Jul 2007

Fire Prevention Plan

Posted by Allan under Safety , Training , NFPA , OSHA , Emergency , non-profits , Fire Safety , Safety Culture , First Responders , Emergency Planning , Emergency Response , Hazardous Waste
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Factory FireAccording to 29 CFR 1910.34, all workplaces in general industry except mobile workplaces such as vehicles or vessels must have a fire prevention plan. Your facility’s fire prevention plan must include, at a minimum, the following elements, as specified in 29CFR 1910.39(c):

  • A list of all major fire hazards, proper handling and storage procedures for hazardous materials, potential ignition sources and their control, and the type of fire protection equipment necessary to control each major hazard
  • Procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials
  • Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards installed on heat-producing equipment to prevent the accidental ignition of combustible materials
  • The name or job title of employees responsible for maintaining equipment to prevent or control sources of ignition or fires
  • The name or job title of employees responsible for the control of fuel source hazards

In the past few years a few people have been asked this question,  “Should I train my employees to fight minor fires with a fire extinguisher?”  My answer is alwayS the same, train people as first responders to make sure they get everyone out of the building, use a fire extinguisher to help clear a path if needed.  Let trained fire fighters put your fire out.  OSHA has specific regulations for having and training a fire brigade. 

I have found that insurance companies which insure your building, would like to see employees to try and put out minor fires with a fire extinguisher.   In contrast the company who carries your health insurance wants to make sure everyone gets out of the building and let the trained fire fighters work on the fire.

Developing an Emergency Response Plan is an essential part of a company’s safety program and can save lives.  Develop a good one and PRACTICE IT OFTEN.

 


Wed 27 Jun 2007

Study Identifies Home Safety Practices, Perceptions

Posted by Allan under Safety , Health , Hazardous Materials , Emergency , non-profits , Electrical Safety , Fire Safety , Emergency Planning , Emergency Response , Home Safety Council
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WHILE a majority of U.S. adults think about home safety often, very few actually take action to make their home safer from the five leading causes of home injury — falls, poisonings, fires and burns, choking/suffocation and drowning.

The findings are a result of a new survey conducted as part of the Home Safety Council’s Hands on Home Safety campaign. The survey polled U.S. adults to reveal the public’s level of awareness around the most common home dangers and determine the safety actions they have taken to protect themselves and their families.

While the majority of U.S. adults (82 percent) indicated that they are very knowledgeable or somewhat knowledgeable about what they can do to make their homes safer, only one-third (36 percent) were able to name a safety action they have already taken. The survey also found that more than a quarter (26 percent) of U.S. adults said they are not worried that an injury may occur in their own home.

“These findings speak directly to the need for additional education to increase the public’s level of awareness around the leading causes of home injury and the actions they can take to protect against injury risks,” said Angela Mickalide, director of education and outreach for the Home Safety Council. “Each year in our nation home-related injuries result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits, many of which are almost entirely avoidable with proper education and a few simple home modifications.”

Falls Prevention:

Key Findings: When asked to identify which type of injury they are most worried might happen in the home, only about one-fifth (19 percent) of survey respondents were concerned about falls — the leading cause of home injury death.

Home Safety Tips:

  • Have grab bars in the tub and shower.
  • Have bright lights over stairs and steps and on landings.
  • Have handrails on both sides of the stairs and steps.
  • Use a ladder for climbing instead of a stool or furniture.
  • Use baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, if babies or toddlers live in or visit your home.

Poisoning Prevention:

Key Findings: Poisonings are the second-leading cause of home injury, yet less than one-fifth of U.S. adults (18 percent) have put safety locks on their cabinets or posted the Poison Control Hotline on or near all phones. Just more than one-third (39 percent) of survey respondents indicated that they have installed carbon-monoxide detectors near sleeping areas in their homes.

Home Safety Tips:

  • Lock poisons, cleaners, medications and all dangerous items in a place where children can’t reach them.
  • Keep all cleaners in their original containers. Do not mix them together.
  • Use medications carefully. Follow the directions. Use child resistant lids.
  • Install carbon-monoxide detectors near sleeping areas.
  • Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 if someone takes poison. This number will connect you to emergency help in your area.

Home Fire Safety:

Key Findings: Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury death and account for 3,400 fatalities each year. The new survey found that while almost all U.S. adults (93 percent) have a smoke alarm in their home, only one-quarter (26 percent) have a fire escape plan in place.

Home Fire Safety Tips:

  • Have working smoke alarms and hold fire drills. If you build a new home, install fire sprinklers.
  • Stay by the stove when cooking, especially when you are frying food.
  • Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
  • If you smoke, smoke outside. Use deep ashtrays and put water in them before you empty them. Lock matches and lighters in a place where children can’t reach them. \
  •  Only light candles when an adult is in the room. Blow the candle out if you leave the room or go to sleep.

Choking & Suffocation Prevention:

Key Findings: Home Safety Council research shows that choking/suffocation is the second leading cause of home injury death for children under the age of 14 and the fourth leading cause overall. When asked about safety behaviors followed in the home, the new survey revealed that only 39 percent of respondents require children to be seated while eating, putting them at risk for choking.

Home Safety Tips:

  • Things that can fit through a toilet paper tube can cause a young child to choke.
  • Keep coins, latex balloons and hard round foods, such as peanuts and hard candy, out of children’s reach.
  • Place children to bed on their backs. Don’t put pillows, comforters or toys in cribs.
  • Clip the loops in window cords and place them up high where children can’t get them.
  • Read the labels on all toys, especially if they have small parts. Be sure that your child is old enough to play with them.
  • Tell children to sit down when they eat and to take small bites

Water Safety:

Key Findings: Drowning presents a sudden and silent danger, yet according to the new survey, less than half (49 percent) of U.S. adults actively supervise children when they are in or near water.

Water Safety Tips:

  • Stay within an arm’s length of children in and around water. This includes bathtubs, toilets, pools and spas — even buckets of water.
  • Put a high fence all the way around your pool or spa. Always keep the gate closed and locked.
  • Empty large buckets and wading pools after using them. Keep them upside down when not in use.
  • Make sure your children always swim with a grownup. No child or adult should swim alone.
  • Keep your hot water at or below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns.

For more information on ways to avoid injuries and protect loved ones in and around your home, visit http://www.homesafetycouncil.org.

 


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