The following procedures will be implemented to facilitate calm and
reasonable responses to emergency situations:
Before operations begin, an emergency medical assistance network
will be established and the Safety Officer will notify the local fire,
police, and rescue authorities to alert them of potential emergency
situations that may arise due to activity.
A vehicle will be available during all activities to transport injured
personnel to the identified emergency medical facilities. If the injury
is severe, medical transport will be summoned.
Each field team will
be equipped with a cell phone or radio for communication. Satellite
phones may be necessary as communication system could be disabled.
In extreme situations, the Incident Safety Officer may have to confer
with APHIS subject matter experts on methods to assure communication.
Field
personnel will work in pairs whenever possible. A call-in schedule
(a schedule of when the employee is to call a supervisor or designee)
will be established for personnel working alone.
Upon arriving on location,
emergency facilities locations must be determined and mapped. Emergency
telephone numbers and maps (see on previous page) with written directions
to the nearest emergency facility will be placed in an easily accessible
location in each vehicle used and in the support zone. A copy of this
HASP and a work plan (detailing the daily activity) will also be maintained
in each vehicle.
A first-aid kit, an adequate supply of fresh water,
and a portable emergency eyewash will be maintained in each vehicle
used.
Personnel will be trained in emergency procedures during the
personnel training session.
The work areas will be evaluated before
work each day by the Incident Commander, Safety Officer, Security Officer
and Operations Chief. The evaluation will be to assure evacuation routes
are adequate, procedures are in place for recognized hazards, and communication
systems are adequate. Any change to emergency procedures from this
evaluation will be communicated to personnel before they leave for
the day.
The APHIS employee’s supervisor will be responsible for
ensuring that all personnel understand the facility-specific emergency
signals and procedures, if any. The Safety Officer will assure all
Supervisors are trained and familiar with the facility-specific emergency
signals and procedures.
The Incident Commander will be responsible for
assuring the evacuation, emergency treatment, and emergency transport
of personnel, if necessary, and notification of emergency response
units and appropriate management staff.
At the beginning of the deployment,
the Safety Officer will determine the potential for a chemical release
of material being used for the deployment. The Safety Officer shall
assure that spill response material appropriate for the materials are
on-site and available in case of a hazardous materials leak. This list
will be up-dated as needed (see appendix 10-A for a primer on spill
response materials).
