EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES

Emergency response procedures will vary, depending on many factors, including the severity of the incident and the type of project, deployment, and program. Several elements will remain constant, however:

• All incidents are to be treated seriously and investigated thoroughly.
• Priority in the case of an accident goes to:
  • Saving a life.
  • Saving a limb.
  • Maintaining an essential service or utility.
  • Making the injured comfortable.
  • Preventing damage to equipment or property (without risk of injury).
    

All emergencies must be treated with caution as circumstances can arise that put those who are unprepared, ill equipped and not sufficiently trained into situations of extreme danger. When responding to the following incidents, all project, deployment, and program personnel must be informed of the procedures to be followed.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

The project, deployment, and program supervisor must ensure that an effective communications system is in place, with strategically placed equipment and properly defined responsibilities to relay information quickly. It is recommended to have a backup system in place, in case the system is rendered useless by the emergency. The type and location of emergency communication systems must be posted to the project, deployment, and program. This will include location of telephones or two-way radios, a list of personnel included in the emergency communication system, and any other equipment available.

FIRST AID/MAJOR ACCIDENT RESPONSE

The project, deployment, and program supervisor and a certified First Aid/CPR provider are notified of the accident. Care is arranged for the injured employee, based on the evaluation of the severity of the injury. If EMS is notified, the emergency access route is attended and emergency care is provided until support arrives. Senior management and the Ministry of Labour (if applicable) are informed of the accident. A company representative is sent to the hospital to learn about the injured worker’s condition. The accident scene is secured and an accident investigation is launched, including interviewing witnesses and completing reports (see Accident Investigation Procedures).