Chapter 11 –Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
CHAPTER 11
Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter, you will be able to do the following:
1. Define an emergency.
2. List the key elements in emergency preparedness.
3. Describe the concept of an emergency plan.
4. Understand the necessity of having emergency and evacuation plans
5. Describe the principles of fire prevention and suppression.
Chapter Summary
Chapter 11 outlines two aspects of emergency planning: emergency preparedness and an organization’s response to an emergency. The chapter concludes by describing fire plans, evacuation plans, and critical incident debriefing.
Lecture Outline
Comments / ActivityA. Introduction: Emergency Preparedness
B. Precontact: Assessing Hazards and Planning Potential Responses
C. Contact: Fire Plan / Learning Activity: Use PPT slides to describe (define terms) and give examples of recent organization emergencies and their emergency planning (emergency preparedness and response to emergency). In addition to the opening vignette, Wind Storm In British Columbia, ask students to form small groups to discuss and answer Using the Internet Question 1 (What emergencies have occurred in your local area in the last five years? How effective was the emergency response?) and Discussion Question 2 (What type of emergencies should organizations in your area be prepared for?). Refer to Suggestions for End of Chapter – Using the Internet Question 1 and Discussion Question 2. Have the student groups share some recent examples of emergencies (and potential emergencies) and the level of preparedness and response to the emergency. Emphasize the importance of mitigating disasters through effective emergency planning. Access the website of your local EMO site and the debriefing reports on past emergency responses and other information on emergency related topics.
You can access various video clips on local and national emergencies at www.youtube.com
such as the Kelowna Fire Storm 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVp80WCU-mYUse. These pictures set the tone for students awareness and discussion around the importance of emergency preparedness and the challenges of responding to emergencies. Ask students “Although the benefits of a proactive response to emergencies are well documented, why don’t many organizations implement a systematic preparation for emergencies?” Management commitment to emergency preparedness seems to be a critical determinant. Refer too the video clips to describe the importance of using the five-stage crisis management and strategies: signal detection, preparation, damage containment, recovery, and learning.
Short videos/DVDs such as, The Workers’ Compensation Board of BC “Expect the Unexpected’ are available through the government departments in the different jurisdictions. www.worksafebc.com/publications
Learning Activity: Use PPT slides to describe and give examples of the elements necessary in the management of emergencies: an emergency plan, an emergency manager, a fire plan, an evacuation plan, and a medical attention plan and the basics of an emergency plan: hazard evaluation, emergency response plan, training, an evacuation plan, notification of authorities, supplies and drills. Ask students to form small groups to discuss and answer Exercise Question 1. (Determine if your workplace or school has an emergency response plan. Compare this plan with the one outlined in this chapter.) Refer to Suggestions for End of Chapter – Exercise Question 1. Have the student groups share examples of the emergency plans they discussed.
You will want to have a guest speaker talk about a recent emergency, emergency preparedness and the integration and responsibilities of human resource management (or refer to a recent emergency). The Summer 2004 issue of the BC Human Resource Management Association People Talk Magazine on Emergency Preparedness (volume 7, no. 2) has several articles on the emergency planning of the devastating Kelowna and Kamloops fires and the integrated strategic human resources management approach that was implemented.
http://www.bchrma.org/resource_centre/people_talk_magazine/2004/summer.htm
Learning Activity: Use PPT slides to describe (using the illustrations Figure 11.1–Fire Triangle and Figure 11.2–Fire Tetrahedron) the fire process and requirements for extinguishment. Engage students in a discussion about “what should be considered when developing a fire-prevention program?” 1. structural design ( building codes), 2. barriers, 3. detection and suppression (smoke alarm, fir extinguisher) and 4. storage (combustibles stored isolated area). Ask students to form small groups to discuss and answer Exercise Question 2 (Prepare a fire prevention and suppression plan for your own home or apartment.) Refer to Suggestions for End of Chapter – Exercise Question 2. Have the student groups share examples of the fire prevention and suppression plans they discussed.
D. Postcontact: Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
E. Preparation and Response to a Potential Influenza Pandemic. / Ask students to form small groups to discuss the video and answer Short Answer Question 2 (What is a critical incident? Describe what a HRM should do if a critical incident occurred in their workplace. Describe a critical incident stress debriefing.) Refer to Suggestions for Short Answer Question 2.
Short videos/DVDs such as, The Workers’ Compensation Board of BC “Aftermath-An Initial Response to Critical Incidents”are available through the government departments in the different jurisdictions, www.worksafebc.com/publications
Additional Learning Activity: In summary of this chapter you may want to challenge students to expand and improve on the quality of their thinking, learning and problem solving about emergency preparedness and response by discussing Critical Thinking Question 2 (What emergency preparedness elements would you put in place in your organization in preparation and response to a potential influenza pandemic [global disease outbreak] ? How will you operate your business if 30 percent of more of your employees are not able to work and essential services are disrupted with minimal outside help from government and medical agencies. Students to form small groups to research, discuss and present their thoughts to the class. Refer to Suggestions for End of Chapter – Critical Thinking Question 2.
Suggestions for End of Chapter – Discussion Questions
1. Who should be involved in developing emergency response plans?
Answer: Emergency response is largely up to individuals. As events overwhelm an individual’s capacity to respond, governments respond in a progressive manner beginning with local emergency organizations (i.e. municipal emergency services, emergency measures organization) and then provincial and federal emergency measures organizations.
BC Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) http://www.pep.bc.ca/
The Federal Public Safety and Emergency www.psepc.gc.ca/index_e.asp
· Health and Safety Committees
· Municipal and Regional Government
· Fire Departments
· Utility Corporations
· Regional Districts
· R.C.M.P.
2. What type of emergencies should organizations in your area be prepared for?
Answer: Naturally occurring emergencies include: floods (lakes and mountain streams), earth-quakes, SARs, and wind bursts/heavy rains. Emergencies caused by humans include: computer crashes or viruses, chemical spills, plane crashes, forest fires, explosions, and violence.
3. Decide what type of fire extinguisher would be most effective in the following fire situations:
a) a hair dryer engulfed in smoke
b) grease burning in a frying pan
c) rags smoking in the garage
d) a log that has rolled from the fireplace onto the living room floor
e) a coffee machine whose wires are shooting flames
Answer:
a) a hair dryer engulfed in smoke (CO2, halon)
b) grease burning in a frying pan (CO2, dry chemical)
c) rags smoking in the garage (CO2, dry chemical)
d) a log that has rolled from the fireplace onto the living room floor (water)
e) a coffee machine whose wires are shooting flames (CO2, halon)
4. While this chapter has focused on health and safety implications, there are also public relations issues in an emergency. What principles would be appropriate for an organization to adopt in dealing with the media/public during an emergency?
Answer: A solid communication plan and the effective management of information that ranges from the designation of responsibility and setting clear policies and procedures to a public relations program is extremely important. The development and use of technology to communicate quickly to the media and other external sources could be an important consideration.
Suggestions for End of Chapter – Using the Internet
1. What emergencies have occurred in your local area in the last five years? How effective was the emergency response? (Hint: Local EMO sites often have debriefing reports on past emergency responses)
Answer:
Kelowna - Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park Fire
The Summer 2004 issue of the BC Human Resource Management Association People Talk Magazine on Emergency Preparedness (volume 7, no. 2) has several articles on the emergency planning of the devastating Kelowna and Kamloops fires and the value of having human resources as a strategic component in the Central Okanagan disaster plan,
http://www.bchrma.org/resource_centre/people_talk_magazine/view_back_issues.htm
BC Healthcare Workers-Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
The WCB Prevention Magazine on Occupational Health and Safety Issues-WorkSafe www.WorkSafebc.com published an article, SARS in the Workplace–Meeting the Challenge, February 2004 that describes the challenges of protecting BC healthcare workers from the emerging respiratory infection called SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). The challenge was managing information that ranged from keeping current on the constantly changing science and updating protocols to facilitating centralized and rapid decision making and communicating information and addressing concerns and fears with everyone involved, quickly, effectively and efficiently.
Workplace Shooting in Kamloops
The coroner’s inquest made several recommendations highlighting the need for business and government to plan for potential workplace violence. Full Report of Kamloops Triple Shooting Inquest http://www.nupge.ca/news_2003/n23jn03a.htm
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/nrm_news_releases/2003MSER0013-000733.htm/
BC Public Service Violence Prevention Policies & Procedures
http://www.bcpublicservice.ca/
http://www.bcpublicservice.ca/down/comm/activity_sept23_03.pdf
http://www.bcpublicservice.ca/down/pdfs/Kamloops_report.pdf
Other emergencies include: floods, plane crashes, winds and snow storms, earth quakes.
Suggestions for End of Chapter - Exercises
1. Determine if your workplace or school has an emergency response plan. Compare this plan with the one outlined in this chapter.
Answer: The necessary elements in the management of emergencies include an emergency plan, an emergency manager, a fire plan, an evacuation plan and a medical attention plan. An example is OUC emergency response plan, http://www.ouc.bc.ca/er/safety/SManIndex.html#top.
The basics of an emergency plan are:
· Hazard evaluation
· Emergency response plan
· Training
· An evacuation plan
· Notification of authorities
· Supplies
· Drills
2. Prepare a fire prevention and suppression plan for your own home or apartment.
Answer: When developing a fire-prevention program the following should be considered: structural design (building codes), barriers, detection and suppression (smoke alarm, fire extinguisher) and storage (combustibles stored isolated area). Other areas to consider include: hazard evaluation (possible home hazards: propane barbecue, cleaning solvents), emergency response plan (discuss and have emergency information and phone numbers posted), and evacuation plan)
Suggestions for End of Chapter – Cases
Case 1:
Answer: The necessary elements in the management of emergencies include an emergency plan, an emergency manager, a fire plan, an evacuation plan and a medical attention plan. The basics of an emergency plan are: hazard evaluation, emergency response plan, training, an evacuation plan, notification of authorities, supplies and.drills.
The Summer 2004 issue of the BC Human Resource Management Association People Talk Magazine on Emergency Preparedness (volume 7, no. 2) has several articles on emergency preparedness.
http://www.bchrma.org/resource_centre/people_talk_magazine/view_back_issues.htm
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Pearson, Clair, and Misra Mitroff (1997) describe emergency planning as a ____ stage crisis management process.
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 6
e. 7
2. The elements necessary in the management of emergencies include:
a. a fire plan and an evacuation plan
b. an emergency manager
c. a medical attention plan
d. all of the above
e. a and c
3. An organization emergency plan requires:
a. a hazard evaluation
b. an emergency response plan
c. supplies and drills
d. all of the above
e. a and c
4. Human resource and safety professionals must manage emergency situations by evaluating the hazards:
a. that could cause an emergency
b. with the greatest risk and loss potential
c. that have lead to other organization’s fatalities
d. all of the above
e. a and b
5. Emergency preparedness consists of the following, except:
a. preparing an emergency response plan
b. designating and training those responsible for the emergency plans implementation
c. controlling fire hazards
d. communicating plans to employees
e. developing an evacuation plan
6. The fire tetrahedvor model shows the following elements:
a. fuel, oxygen and carbon dioxide
b. fuel, oxygen and heat
c. carbon dioxide, nitrogen and heat
d. heat, air and carbondioxide
e. fuel, heat and carbondioxide
7. Hazardous by-products of fires include:
a. heat and smoke
b. carbon cyanide and carbon sulphide
c. carbon sulphide and hydrogen monoxide
d. hydrogen monoxide and sulphur
e. sulphur and hydrogen monoxide
8. When developing a fire-prevention program, the following should be considered:
a. structural design
b. barriers and suppression
c. storage
d. all of the above
e. a and b only
9. A good procedure for a chemical spill would include:
a. do not risk exposing yourself to the chemical
b. isolate the area around the spill
c. contact authorities for all chemical spills
d. all of the above
e. a and b
10. Emergency planning involves:
a. anticipating and planning for emergencies
b. putting the emergency plans into action
c. medical attention plan
d. getting back to work and refining plans
e. a and b
Multiple Choice Answers
1. c 6. b
2. d 7. a
3. d 8. d
4. e 9. e
5. c 10. e
True/False Questions
1. In Canada, emergency response is largely up to individuals and each individual is responsible for knowing what to do in an emergency.
2. Provinces have an Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) that are tasked with managing large scale emergencies and support local organizations as required.
3. British Columbia has its’ own emergency measures organization called the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP).
4. An emergency is a sudden, generally unexpected occurrence of a set of circumstances demanding immediate action.
5. Emergencies can be either naturally occurring or caused by humans.
6. An early step in emergency planning involves the senior management adoption of a crisis management mindset.