Extreme weather, bomb threats, and flammable dust explosions all necessitate manufacturing enterprises going into emergency mode. Because these events often induce worry, having a strategy in place is the best way to deal with them.
This article discusses the ten most important components of an emergency evacuation strategy. These elements were specified by OSHA, and we adapted them to include both visitors and staff.
Situations that require an evacuation
Many factors can contribute to an emergency scenario. However, not all of them would necessitate an evacuation. Whether or not you need to evacuate is determined by a number of circumstances.
These include the type of emergency and the building’s attributes (e.g., how many stories, the construction material). Your plan should describe the exact conditions that require an evacuation.
Situations in which it may be preferable to shelter in place
In other circumstances, staying indoors would be safer, such as if the outside environment contains harmful chemicals. In these cases, you should designate an indoor location (ideally without windows) where employees and guests can congregate.
A well-defined chain of command
Who is in charge of analyzing the situation and deciding whether or not an evacuation is required? Who will be in charge of each floor of a high-rise structure? What about alerting the emergency services? Make certain that everyone understands their function and is properly trained to fulfill it.
Exact evacuation procedures
All emergency equipment, routes, and exits should be clearly marked and kept clear of impediments at all times. If your structure has many interior rooms, such as stairwells without windows, consider painting arrows and marking exits with photoluminescent paint, which glows in the dark.
High-rise building-specific evacuation protocols
High-rise structures present unique issues in terms of evacuation, and OSHA defines specific duties for both employers and employees. Among them, they include posting evacuation plans on each floor; designating and training someone on each floor who will be in charge of getting people out; and ensuring everyone is accounted for.
A visitor management system can help in this situation by providing a computerized guest log. This will assist you in accounting for any non-employees that were present in the building.
Evacuation procedures for visitors and workers
One “evacuation warden” for every 20 employees or guests is a good rule of thumb. The evacuation warden inspects offices and closes fire doors, among other duties. The warden should also examine the visiting log to ensure that all guests who are unfamiliar with the building’s evacuation routes and exits arrive safely.
Identification of those who will remain after the evacuation alert to shut down vital activities or conduct other duties.
It is not always possible to shut down everything at once in a production operation. Certain staff may be required to remain behind in this instance to turn off the machines and utilities. If you have individuals in this position, make sure they understand when it’s time to abandon ship for their own safety.
A method of accounting for all visitors and staff following an evacuation
This is where a guest control system can really help! OSHA suggests establishing assembly areas and conducting head counts. However, these techniques will not always work for everyone. The evacuation warden for floor 20, for example, may be aware that 34 individuals work on that floor.
They wouldn’t have known there were three guests in the building when the alarm went off if there hadn’t been a visitor log. A visitor management system creates a cloud-based digital visitor log that your evacuation wardens can view on their phone to ensure that everyone — not just employees — is safely evacuated.
Unique equipment
You may be obliged to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) in some emergency scenarios. They include:
Face shields, goggles, or safety glasses
Hard helmets and safety shoes are required.
It is necessary to wear chemical suits, gloves, hoods, and boots.
specialized bodily defense against aberrant environmental circumstances.
Appropriate respiratory protection
Respirators differ from other PPE in that they must be chosen, particularly for the threats present. There are four types of respirators for use in various situations.