Emergency Procedures Flashcards

What is a 'major incident plan'?

Answer: A comprehensive plan for responding to large-scale emergencies that require coordination between the organisation and external emergency services

A major incident plan covers large-scale emergencies such as major fires, explosions, chemical releases, structural collapse, or natural disasters. It includes: command structure, coordination with emergency services, communication protocols, casualty management, media handling, business recovery, and post-incident support.

What training should workers receive about emergency procedures?

Answer: All workers should receive training on: the types of emergencies that could occur, alarm systems, evacuation routes, assembly points, their specific role, and refresher training

All workers should receive training covering: the types of emergencies that could occur in their workplace, how the alarm is raised, evacuation procedures and routes, assembly point locations, their specific role (if any), use of any emergency equipment, and what not to do. Refresher training should be provided regularly.

What is 'mutual aid' in emergency planning?

Answer: Agreements between neighbouring organisations to provide assistance to each other during major emergencies

Mutual aid involves pre-arranged agreements between neighbouring organisations, businesses, or facilities to provide assistance to each other during major emergencies. This might include shared equipment, specialist personnel, alternative premises, or expertise that individual organisations may not have on their own.

What is the role of the emergency services during a workplace emergency?

Answer: They provide specialist response (firefighting, medical care, police), but the employer retains responsibility for workplace knowledge, employee welfare, and site information

Emergency services provide specialist capabilities (firefighting, medical care, security), but the employer must: provide site-specific information (hazardous materials, layout, people), account for all personnel, support the emergency services with local knowledge, manage employee welfare, and liaise on investigation and recovery.

What records should be kept of emergency drills and events?

Answer: Date, time, type of drill, evacuation time, number of participants, any issues identified, and actions taken to address them

Records of emergency drills should include: date and time, type of scenario, number of people involved, time taken to evacuate, any problems encountered (blocked exits, people unaccounted for, alarm issues), observations about staff behaviour, and actions taken or planned to address identified issues.

What is an 'invacuation' procedure?

Answer: A procedure for bringing people into a building from outside areas to a place of safety inside, used when the danger is external

Invacuation (the opposite of evacuation) involves bringing people from outside areas into the safety of a building. It is used when the danger is external — such as an approaching chemical cloud, external security threat, or severe weather — and the building provides better protection than being outside.