Toolbox Talks

Toolbox Talk: “EMERGENCY RESPONSE AWARENESS”

Nobody expects an emergency or disaster – especially one that affects them, their employees, and their business personally. Yet the simple truth is that emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, and anywhere. We could be forced to evacuate when we least expect it. A workplace emergency is an unforeseen situation that threatens employees, customers, or the public; disrupts or shuts down operations; or causes physical or environmental damage. The best way is to prepare to respond to an emergency before it happens. Few people can think clearly and logically in a crisis, so it is important to do so in advance, when you have time to be thorough. Most of our safety training teaches us how to do our job safely on a day-to-day basis. But what about those rare times when something goes seriously wrong? Would you know how to respond? Emergency preparedness is an important part of our job safety training. Everyone must know:

• The emergency number at work

• The nearest exit and evacuation route

• The assembly area for their building

• Detection, warning and alarms that alert to emergencies

During an actual emergency or simulation exercise workers must stop their normal duties and follow all emergency response procedures. These procedures will include:

• Evacuation

• Assembly

• Obeying all instructions

Drills enable us to practice to react quickly and sensibly when confronted with an emergency. They are very important to emergency preparedness and everyone must be mindful of this importance and must participate fully. We come to work every day prepared for the task at hand and knowledgeable on how to handle task related problems in the workplace. Being mentally aware is also our best preparation for a potential emergency. Analyse beforehand what to do if one of your co-workers is injured, and if that injury is life threatening. Know how to protect yourself, your co-workers and the company in case of a serious chemical spill or fire. Chances are, during a crisis, you won’t have much time to plan the best possible action-so make those decisions ahead of time.

“We can destroy ourselves by cynicism and disillusion, just as effectively as by bombs.” Kenneth Clark

Thanks, WO