Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
EMERGENCY FUNCTIONS
Implementation of an emergency response plan relies on a number of functions
that deal with different aspects of the emergency. The most important emergency
functions are as follows:
Communications
. Ensures
that
the
flow
of
communications
among
•
the
response
personnel
within
the
on-site
response
is
effective
and
uninterrupted.
Fire and rescue
. Most facilities have an emergency response team, primar-
ily trained to handle fires and rescue operations and typically composed
of personnel from the different plant units or departments. These teams
usually have some basic training in the handling of other types of emergen-
cies (such as spills) to control the situation before more specialized teams
arrive at the scene. Team members are trained in comprehensive first aid,
search-and-rescue procedures, and emergency equipment handling.
•
Special hazard (HAZMAT) or spill control
. This function is associated with
personnel specially trained in dealing with any emergency caused by the
presence of special hazards such as releases of toxic or hazardous materi-
als. The handling of these emergencies depends on the physical state of the
material released, type of hazardous material (e.g., poisonous gas, explo-
sive, flammable liquid), type of facility from which the material is released
(e.g., storage tank or reactor), and type of event (e.g., vessel rupture, over-
filling, spill, fire, toxic vapor release).
•
Process/utilities
. Controls the process during the emergency and ensures
that the necessary facility units are shut down. This function is also respon-
sible for generating the necessary utilities during the emergency and isolating
the impacted portions of the manufacturing process.
•
Engineering/technical assistance
. Provides the technical support for strate-
gies to isolate damaged process equipment, designs emergency transfer of
materials to safe vessels, and is responsible for all other process-related
emergency management.
•
Environmental and field survey
. This function is responsible for reducing
the impact of an emergency on the environment. This function develops
programs to monitor potential migration of the release and assesses impacts.
•
Medical
. This function is responsible for providing first aid to the victims
and arranging for their prompt transportation to an appropriate hospital and
also for providing information on the nature and properties of the chemi-
cal and identifies the most appropriate emergency treatment of injured or
exposed personnel.
•
Security
. This function is responsible for ensuring that plant security is
maintained, making sure that unauthorized persons are not admitted to the
plant, and controlling the entry and exit of contractor and other appropriate
response personnel.
•
