subject: Environmental Emergency Readiness And Solution On Construction Sites [print this page] Preparing for emergency situations on construction sites aims to minimise the nature and extent of harm for the atmosphere that might ensue from an emergency circumstance.
The objective of emergency preparedness is ensuring that emergency procedures actually work inside the event of an emergency. This needs:
testing emergency procedures for effectiveness
reviewing procedures following an emergency
training personnel in emergency response.
Getting ready for emergencies generally raises safety awareness and could minimize the likelihood of an emergency scenario occurring.
Probably environmental emergencies and incidents could involve:
fuel or chemical spills;
unlicensed discharge of pollutants to atmosphere (air, water, noise, soil).
dumping of waste to an unauthorised site.
Responsibilities
The actual Site Manager (SM) is nominally the emergency controller inside the event of an emergency. In the absence from the SM, essentially the most senior officer on site is the emergency controller. The emergency controller is authorised to:
order the site to be evacuated
declare that the emergency is more than.
Typically the SM oversees a hazard analysis, inside the site danger assessment process, which identifies most likely emergencies.
Emergency Response plan
Then the SM develops an emergency response plan for the project; the program sets out:
site-compound map showing escape routes and assembly point
emergency contacts, which includes first-aid officers and neighborhood emergency facilities
site arrangements for how the alarm is raised
a locality map showing the project site in relation for the local region.
When accomplished, the plan is a resource for induction to project personnel. The plan should be displayed on sites notice boards
Typical preparations for general emergencies include:
contacting neighborhood emergency services just before the project begins and letting them know the place of the work site, the way to get there swiftly as well as the type of work becoming carried out there
establishing the place in the nearest emergency facility (for instance, hospital with casualty facilities) that may treat the most probably injuries.
ensuring that emergency equipment is maintained.
Typical environmental incident responses on construction sites are:
Reply to any incident
1.First check that you're not in danger yourself.
2.Notify your works Supervisor or most senior management person on site right away
3.The Site Supervisor or most senior management person handles the emergency in accordance with company procedures
Reply to fire incident
1.Warn & rescue any individual in immediate danger - only if safe to do so!
2.Call the fire brigade on 000
3.Extinguish the fire using the right fire extinguisher if safe to do so
4.Evacuate for the emergency assembly location if directed or in danger.
5.Remain at assembly area & ensure everybody is accounted for
Reply to chemical spill
Spills on the worksite are most likely to be hydraulic oil or engine oil spilled from plant items. If a spillage occurs the following procedure is to become followed:
1.Immediately identify the spilled material and notify the works supervisor.
2.Contain the spill as soon as possible so it doesnt spread. Refer to Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for personal protective clothing needed
3.If containment is required, contain using earth mound and/or absorbent socks/spill kit. If you cant do this let your supervisor knows.
4.Use the relevant clean up procedure as instructed by the MSDS
5.Once the spill has been contained, your supervisor will arrange removal and disposal as soon as possible. Dispose of material using a licensed contractor and keep records of disposal on site.
6.Complete an incident report and forward it to the Site Manager
Reporting
Almost any incidents on site, which are probably to cause material harm towards the environment, must be immediately reported to the Principal Contractor or Clients Representative.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) must be also notified right away of pollution incidents on or around the site which have occurred within the course in the works, within the following instances:
The actual or potential harm to the health or safety of human beings or ecosystem is not trivial
The actual or potential loss or property damage (including clean up costs) associated with a pollution incident exceeds $ 10,000.
Finally Emergency response procedures must be documented on the Environmental Management plan for the project.
