Emergency Response Plan, Research Paper Example

An emergency is any unplanned occurrence that may result to death or injuries to individuals. An emergency may also result in the closure of business, disrupt operations, cause physical or environmental damage, and in rare cases, threaten the financial image of an organization or institution. An emergency response plan is a detailed plan that gives a description of the actions, logistics and requirements taken in case of a major event occurs. This plan describes all the strategies that one should put in place to handle emergencies at all stages. We ought to be prepared and have knowledge on how respond to crisis and carry out short-term recovery operations.

The key purpose of an emergency response plan is to establish policies, procedures and develop an organizational hierarchy for response to emergencies. It defines the roles and operations of the members during an emergency.   Information is power. With knowledge, several accidents can be prevented and we can rescue a lot during an emergency. Knowledge of emergency procedures, emergency evacuation plans, and emergency assembly points are essential in case of an accident.

There are several efforts made to limit exposures to emergencies through engineering controls and safe works practise. The most important aspect is to have an emergency response plan in place.  This will provide a guideline through the actions we take in case of hazardous occurrences. The main advantage of having an emergency plan is to ensure safety of the community. A safe community promotes peace and ensures that all the processes continue within the organisation as required. An emergency response plan ensures preparedness in times of crisis. When individuals have a prepared mind, they develop courage to face a crisis upon its occurrence. It also ensures that the experts review and eases the best practises and preparedness when responding to emergencies. Another advantage is that it promotes a closer relationship among the planners and responders in order to attain the maximum standards in emergency response preparation and crisis management (Erickson, 2006).

Emergency planning is an education tool. It makes responders able to recognise patterns of emergencies and know the best way to react to them effectively. Different emergencies require different methods of tackling the crisis. Once a responder has prior knowledge of the crisis, he/she is able to detect the possibilities of occurrence and react to it.

Just as emergencies occur, emergency response plan come in various forms. First, the plans vary from one facility to another depending on the various needs. Nevertheless, these plans have information generalised on the chain of command.  The chain of command provides the details of who is responsible for the various phases of emergencies response (Veenema, 2007).

An emergency response planning facilitates coordination between the responders. It ensures that al responders both internal and external responders unite during an incident. This is best achieved through a commander who needs to have a good working relationship with responders in organisations that offer emergency services. The commander also needs to have reliable information regarding the necessary procedures and a solid understanding of what is involved to achieve safety.

An emergency plan provides room for a hazardous materials specialist. He/she is responsible for determining the kind of chemicals that are on-site and making the decision of how they will be used in the emergency situation. He/she also determines the precautions responders ought to take when working the chemical substances. Since the hazardous chemical specialists are chemical experts, they ought to work hand in hand with the commander in order to make the right decisions during emergency occurrences.

The plan facilitates organisation. The plan contains procedures which when adhered to strictly, ensure that unauthorized persons do not enter any contaminated areas. An emergency plan ensures the presence of Historical records of drills. We carry out drills to facilitate awareness and preparedness among individuals. The events that take place during the drills are always recorded. The responses of members to the drills are also worth noting (Veenema, 2007).

Emergency plans provide accounting for time and maintenance costs. All the materials used during an emergency are budgeted for and bought early in advance. In an organisation, the accountant needs to account for all expenditures. In terms of maintenance costs, the accountant will have a value to present in the case of an audit (Erickson, 2006).

An emergency response plan also addresses the type of protective gear to have during a disaster. There are different protective gears won in different times and they vary according to the nature of the disaster. The type and quantity of chemicals being released into the atmosphere also determines the type of protective gear to put on. Training is also another important aspect contained in an emergency plan. Training ensures that the workers are familiar with the mental challenges while working in emergency response situations. It ensures that the workers stay focussed all the time. Developing mental preparedness is a key to obtaining a successful emergency response operation. It is believed that what goes on in the mind of an employee is the most crucial part of responding to a disaster (US Fire administration, 2000).

In summary, we may state that, enhanced communication is a vial tool for effective response to disasters. Poor communication contributes to low levels of situation awareness for both the responders and the commanders. When contact lines are not up as desired, effective response diminishes. Therefore, to establish and maintain lines of direct contact between key individuals, in this case the decision makers and the public, is a key objective in emergency planning. Provision of emergency communication lines is also vital for reducing impacts of future disasters. It is also important to take advantage of technological advancements and utilise them. This allows for higher degrees of mobility for communication systems and ensures the presence of flexible operational command structures. It is also important for individuals to know where they fit in the chain of command. This enables one to know what his/her duties are during an accident and where to report. An emergency involving chemicals is one of the most dangerous situations one can encounter. Once one is aware of the safety rules, knows the emergency response plan in and out, nothing can serve as an obstacle in going through an incidence safely.

References

Darwin, C. (2008). “Emergency Management Plan.” Charles Darwin University Australia Web 22 July 2011 http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/documents/EmergencyManagementPlan.pdf

US Fire administration (2000). ”Special Report: Risk Management Planning for Hazardous Materials: What it Means for Fire Service Planning” FEMA publishers.

Veenema, T.G (2007). “Disaster Nursing and Emergency Preparedness: For Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Terrorism and Other Hazards.” 2^nd Ed.  Springer Series Springer Publishing Company.

Erickson P.A (2006). “Emergency response planning for corporate and municipal managers.” Butterworth-Heinemann homeland security series 2^nd Ed, illustrated, Butterworth-Heinemann Publishers.