what is emergency ?
An emergency is an urgent, unexpected and usually dangerous situation that poses as immediate risk to health, loss of life, property, environment and requires immediate action.
A chemical accident, as defined under Rule 2(a) of the Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Response) Rules, 1996, is an unintended, sudden, or unexpected occurrence that occurs during the handling of hazardous chemicals. This can include leaks, spills, explosions, or other events involving dangerous substances that could endanger people, property, or the environment.
A disaster is also an emergency any unplanned event that can cause the following thing :-
- Loss of good environment
- Loss of better health of human being.
- Loss of well established business in terms of money and property damage.
- Loss of better public image.
Three are type of emergency which follow :-
- On-site emergency
- Off-site emergency
Onsite Emergency
If an emergency which place in an industry, its effects are confined to the industry premises, involving only the person working inside the industry and property in side the industry. This type emergency is called on-site emergency.
Example of on-site emergency
- Leakage of highly flammable liquid in plant and leading fire
- Minor chlorine leakage in the factory
- A sudden fire in a factory or office.
- Accidental release of hazardous materials.
- Equipment malfunction causing an explosion.
- A worker suffering a heart attack or injury.
- Escape of toxic or flammable gas.
According to on-site emergency plan there should be a regularly mock drill of these types of emergency. Plant mock drill should be monthly and unit mock drill should be after quarterly.
Off-site emergency :
If an emergency which take place in an industry, its effect are not only confined to industrial premises but also affecting public and environment outside the premises. This type emergency is called off-site emergency.
Example of off-site emergency
- Leakage of harmful gases like ammonia affecting nearby communities.
- A factory blast causing debris or toxic chemicals to spread off-site.
- A major spill contaminating nearby water bodies.
- Escape of radioactive material from a plant.
- Large fire spreading beyond the facility.
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What is emergency planning ?
An emergency plan or planning is a specific procedure that handles sudden or unexpected situation.
What is main objective of emergency plan ?
- To control the incident / accident and if possible eliminate it.
- To minimise the effect of the incident from person, property and environment.
What is emergency response ?
The process of preparing for mitigating, responding to and recovering from one of the event is known as emergency response.
Emergency response is a process which should include following this –
- planning
- training
- Conducting drills
- Testing equipment’s
- Co-ordinating activation
Emergency Management
An emergency management is the function charged with creating the strong within the communities to reduce the hazard and disaster/ emergency.
There are 5 principle of emergency management –
- Prevention
- Mitigation
- preparedness
- Response
- Recovery
The key-personnel for on-site emergency.
- communication Officer
- Security and fire Officer
- Telephone Operator
- Medical Officer
- Work incident controller
Main element of on-site emergency plan.
- Leadership and Administration
- Role & Responsibility of key-personnel
- Emergency action
- Light and Power
- Protective & Rescue Equipment
- Communication
- Medical Care
- Training
