EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
We consult with you in preparing your plan
We are ready to help you protect lives, property and the environment.
We have years of experience in developing Emergency Action Plans (EAP). An EAP is not only the floor plans with evacuation routes and assembly areas, but also must include who does what in the time of an emergency. A good emergency plan consists of a documented plan detailing all relevant information, and then extracts from this comprehensive plan are trained to the responders and coordinators who will ensure the plan is activated and runs properly in the event of an emergency.
Priority 1 is to prevent injury and save lives.
Management, staff, visitors, contractors and other building occupants must either know the Emergency Plan when the alarm is raised, or at the very least, be able to follow a safe route out of the building to an assembly area where they can be accounted for. The emergency plan will include duties and responsibilities in terms of how to handle visitors and persons with special needs.
Reducing risk and damage to property
The Alute EAP includes proactive actions and duties that will reduce the risk of an emergency occurring, and if an emergency occurs, the risk and damage to property, machinery is reduced. The EAP takes into consideration resumption of business operations after the all clear, and thus shut down and restart of processes is documented and trained to relevant operators.
Reducing Environmental Impacts
Emergencies covered in the Alute EAP include those of a nature that not only threaten people and property but can include an environmental element and this is planned for in the EAP. Responses in case of a spill, flood, fire etc. are included as well as the correct containment and clean-up operations during and after the emergency.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS – do you and your staff know what to do in an emergency and how to get out alive?
What is an Emergency Action Plan?
An EAP is a plan of action for you, your staff, visitors, contractors and other building occupants in case of an emergency, detailing what to do and where to go for the best possible opportunity to reduce injury to people, damage to property and impacts on the environment.
Do you have to have a Plan?
Yes, the CEO (or 16.1 in terms of the Act), must be able to prove he did everything a reasonable person would/could have done to prevent people from being injured at work whilst under his employ. To prove this, it will be expected from any reasonable person to identify possible emergencies, plan a response to these emergencies, train staff in their duties and responses, post evacuation routes and assembly areas for all occupants to follow and then practice this plan regularly to ensure it works. How can Alute SA help you?
To ensure you have done everything reasonably possible for all staff, visitors and contractors (all building occupants) that fall under your care at the time of an emergency, an emergency plan must be developed, documented, communicated to all, trained to key personnel, and practice drills conducted with the entire staff. This emergency plan must include all possible identified emergencies and responses and must be a documented plan that all staff have access to as and when required.
To carry out the requirements of the Fire and Emergency plan, we offer the following: Training
During an emergency, there must be trained persons available to attend to this emergency (over and above the persons who will co-ordinate the evacuation). These trained people are also prescribed in terms of a number of sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The table hereunder lists our recommendations. Physical Premises
During the planning stages, a walkabout is required. During this phase, a number of items will become evident, some of which may not be in contravention of the Act, but will need to be addressed as a concern for the safety of the people and property on the premises. Below are the minimum aspects pro-actively looked at.
1.1
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EAP
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Development of the emergency action lan specific to your premises and operation, including relevant responses, checklists, appointment of key personnel and responders, shut down procedures, contact lists, immediate action drills, evacuation procedures and routes.
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1.2
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Evacuation Plans
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Design evacuation routes on floor plans together with emergency exits showing primary and secondary evacuation routes to assembly areas (and emergency equipment – fire extinguishers, 1st Aid Kits etc.). Design, print, frame and install.
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1.3
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Key Personnel
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People who co-ordinate the evacuation and who are in charge of certain Zones (areas) will be selected, appointed in writing and then trained in their duties. (Zone Marshals, Communications, Emergency Controller and deputies). We would suggest which personnel and which others should participate – you would make the final selection.
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1.4
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Drill
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On completion of the planning and training, a drill will be conducted with all staff. We will provide a number of observers in strategic areas to observe and assist. On completion of the drill we hold a de-briefing with key personnel and shall submit a drill report for record keeping purposes.
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1.5
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Follow up drills
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Once the first drill is complete, a drill every 6 months will ensure everyone is kept refreshed in terms of their duties. Together with this drill, it will become evident where staff members may have been replaced etc. and new persons may need to be trained and appointed. Each drill will be varied, i.e. Fire, Bomb Threat, Heart Attack etc.
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1.6
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E Plan Maintenance
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At the same time as the follow up drills, we will ensure the Emergency plan is still up to date in terms of people, procedures, building layout, assembly areas, roll call lists, floor plans etc.
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2.1
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Fire Fighting – FIRE2 – 2 Days
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For persons appointed as fire marshals who are expected to fight or contain the fire until the fire department arrives. Certificate of competency.
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2.2
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1st Aiders – MED1 – 2.5 Days
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Formally appointed first aiders. The course is Level 1, approved by Department of Labour. Certificate of competency.
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2.3
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OHS (Rep & Management) – OHS1 – 1 Day
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A health and Safety Representative is a legal requirement. One employer rep and one employee rep per group on site is required. Certificate of competency.
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2.4
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Basic Fire – FIRE0 – 4 Hours
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This is not a legal requirement but a recommendation that all staff undergo basic fire training to know how fires start and what to do in the first 3 seconds. Each person will also have the opportunity of using a fire extinguisher to know what it feels like.
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2.5
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First Aid Basics – MED0 – 1Day
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This is not a legal requirement but a recommendation that all staff undergo basic 1st Aid (CPR, Choking, Fractures, Bleeding, Stroke) so they can identify the different symptoms of these emergencies and act appropriately as the first person on the scene. (This is especially important for “home and community” where there are spouses, children etc at home with no “officially trained” first aider). Certificate of attendance is issued.
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3.1
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Exit Routes
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Are they correct width, do they lead out to the correct area, are they accessible etc. Is emergency exit lighting required?
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3.2
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Exit Doors
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Are they obstructed and need to be cleared, are they fitted with suitable closing mechanisms that can be opened in case of emergency.
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3.3
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Signs
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Evacuation routes, emergency and fire equipment as well as assembly areas must be clearly signposted and demarcated so all occupants, including visitors have this information clearly visible.
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4.1
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1st Aid
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Ist Aid equipment must be made readily available for use in case of Medical Emergency and injuries. Alute SA supplies a wide variety of options to suit the business requirements.
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4.2
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Fire Equipment
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Fire Equipment must be provided and maintained in accordance with the OHAS Act and SABS 1475, and always be in a state of readiness for any fire emergency. Fire equipment is required at different ratios, depending on the risk and occupancy classification – we can carry out assessments in this regard to ensure compliance.
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4.3
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Emergency Lighting
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If there are any building occupants who work in the building as a norm, after hours, emergency lights or a backup generator should be installed in case of emergency and a power failure (or load shedding). Individual emergency lights with backup batteries can be provided instead of an entire electrical installation with generators etc.
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ENQUIRE ABOUT OUR D.I.Y. PLAN FOR MICRO BUSINESSES