Introduction to Fire Safety Management

6.6
Emergency procedures
To ensure that his legal duties of care are discharged, 
an employer will need to consider events that represent 
a serious and imminent danger which will trigger emer-
gency actions such as:
➤
Fire or explosion (see Chapter 10)
➤
Personal 
injury
➤
Acute ill health
➤
Serious process failure which may cause fi re
➤
Spillage or fl ood of a corrosive agent which may 
make contact with skin
➤
Failure to contain biological or carcinogenic agents
➤
Process failure leading to a sudden release of 
chemicals
➤
A threatened signifi cant exposure over a hazardous 
substance
➤
Environmental release (see Chapter 13).
When considering emergency procedures, regardless 
of the type of emergency, a management system should 
be established. The emergency planning arrangements 
should include establishing a policy, preparing for an 
emergency both in the provision of equipment and train-
ing, etc. and making arrangements for those who will have 
to deploy in the event of an emergency, such as those 
dealing with spillages, fi ghting fi res or rendering fi rst aid.
Specifi c information relating to fi re emergency actions 
is covered in Chapter 10.
Initial actions that are likely to be taken in the event 
of an emergency will depend upon the type; however, 
generally the following steps will be taken:
1. Make the scene safe
2. Render fi rst aid (where necessary)
3. Prevent conditions worsening (spill control, fi re, etc.)
4. Consider evacuation (where appropriate)
5. Contact emergency services
6. Report to management team (internal)
7. Report to enforcers (external where appropriate)
8. Initiate investigation procedures
9. When safe to do so restart of business operations
10. Report fi ndings of investigation.