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Emergency response and emergency evacuation drills are important to practice to ensure, that in the event of an emergency, all employees know what their role is, what to do and where to go. In times of an emergency being prepared could be the difference between calm and panic or life and death depending on the circumstances.
Types of emergencies to practice for
When thinking of emergency drills, the majority of people think of a fire drill.
However there a few drills we should regularly practice for. Place these
emergency drills into your calendar if they are relevant for your location and
industry:
• First Aid
• Fire
• Earthquake
• Vehicle Accident
• Hazardous Substance Spill
• Hazardous Substance Fumes
• Gas Explosion or leak
• Shooting
• Robbery
• Flooding
• Civil Defence Event
• Volcanic Eruption
• Tornado
• Tsunami
Why perform drills?
By performing an emergency drill you can prepare and remind key
staff of the roles they are required to play in the emergency. By
providing frequent training, people are more likely to remain calm and
remember the actions they are required to perform.
Someone who has not received frequent practice in the form of a drill,
is more likely to panic and forget key actions during the emergency
event.
Check your emergency kits
When performing your emergency drill, grab the emergency kit and
complete an equipment check. By completing regular equipment
checks you are less likely to not have the products required during a
drill and will know where the kit is located.
Timing in an emergency could be a key component.
Remember the 3 c’s during an emergency event.
• Check that the environment and accessibility to the injured person/
spill/ building/ exit is safe
• Call emergency services/ alert other workers in the workplace
• Care for the injured person/ fire or hazardous situation if safe and
capable to.
Post drill discussion
Discuss the result of the emergency drill afterwards.
Are there any suggestions for improvement? Some key topics to
discuss could be:
• Did everyone remember their role?
• Has all emergency equipment be sourced?
• Time - how can your team complete the drill faster while still being
accurate?
• Alternative exits - if an exit is unsafe, how will your team exit the
building?
• Is the Safe Assembly point the best place to gather due to the
emergency scenario?
• Procedure following the emergency? Do you send employees home
after the head count? Are they to wait? Who contacts next of kin?
Next of Kin Details
During an emergency drill not many businesses think of how they
will get in touch with a victims next of kin, if required. During an
emergency that requires an evacuation are the next of kin details
carried out of the building? Are the details up to date?
By having a staff member responsible to gather next of kin details
during the emergency could remove a lot of worry, frustration and
stress. Details can be provided to emergency services quickly if
required. If employees agree, a good place for next of kin details could
be at the back of the visitor register or in the first aid kit. These two
items are collected during an evacuation already.
Health Records
Encourage employees to share important health information with
the company and regularly ask employees if their health status has
changed.
Ask employees for details about:
• Health issues
• Illnesses
• Allergies
Even if these health related factors do not compromise the employees
ability to work, if they have an accident or health incident at work the
details can be relayed quickly to emergency respondents and correct
treatment can be applied
Red Knob Day
Book in a “Red Knob Day” on this
day you press the emergency stop
button on machinery to ensure that
emergency functions work and that
workers know the process when
reacting to an emergency.
Record these practices as an
emergency drill and have regular
training sessions.
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