The goal of any emergency responseplan are, in order of priority, to protect the health and lives of an organisation’s employees, and protect and minimise damage to company property in the event of an emergency.

Priorities of an Emergency Response

The objectives of an emergency response plan are, in order of priority:

• All employees and visitors should be evacuated and accounted for;
• Local emergency service organisations should be contacted;
• The organisation’s own Emergency Response Team (ERT) should be assembled to implement the response plan;
• Pertinent regulatory agencies should be contacted;
• Search-and-rescue operations should be conducted, and any hazardous chemical spills or releases should also be controlled;
• Property damage should be prevented by means of protective measures;
• Cleanup and salvage should be performed as needed;
• Post-incident critique and evaluation should be conducted; and
• Any applicable reports should be filed with regulatory agencies.
  
  
  

Responsibilities of Personnel during an Emergency Response

- Facility Management

• Evaluate the number and types of hazards expected based on past experience and general knowledge to plan and develop Emergency Response Plan specifics;
• Provide training to employees for their roles in all emergency plans;
• Conduct drills to practice response to emergency situations;
• Conduct an annual drill to practice confined-space rescue;
• All other activities necessary to the development and implementation of an effective Emergency Response Plan; and
• Make emergency response team assignments.

- Maintenance Manager

• Maintain sufficient inventory of emergency response equipment;
• Ensure maintenance and inspection of emergency response equipment; and
• Help train emergency response team members.

- Safety Manager

• Provides assistance in developing and carrying out emergency response plans.