Emergency Procedures Memo for Bushfire - Case Study Example

THE NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY EMERGENCY PROCEDURE MEMO Kimberly Diamond Company STUDENT NAME ADM. NO: COURSE NAME: COURSE CODE: LECTURER NAME 10/5/2012 Emergency Procedures Memo For Bushfire Introduction to Bush Fires Western Australia’s climate especially in Kimberly environment where Ellendale Mine site is situated is often prone to bushfires. These bushfire could cause significant damage to employees, company property and the environment, but in some instances, Western Australia (WA) surroundings is in fact a result of and is tailored to bushfire (Herman and Howitt, 2010). Although there are different views concerning whether and how bushfire should be managed in WA, for example, whether to have “controlled burns” to minimize the harm of bushfires to employees and property. This has led to formulation of some bylaw of bushfires which at the moment is part and parcel of companies working in WA region. The inputs required by stakeholders in identifying potentials emergencies of Bushfire Fire-fighting aides – include fire hydrants, fire blankets, connections and hoses. They are installed at various locations around the sites for turning off site fires. These supports lend a hand in foiling bush fires happening from the onsite, as well as thwarting bushfires that arises from outside sites. Although, these tools are subject to stringent maintenance programs (Standards Australia, 1999). Fire fighting systems – comprise of Pit Top and KVCLF which uses the town water source and recycled site water respectively. Stockpile Sprays – are used to diminish surfaces likelihood of blast-off of other facilities onsite. Fire mains Loudspeakers – informs or alert employees about bushfire around the surface infrastructure at the mine. Water – it is used by fire fighters to put off fire. Portable fire extinguisher Fire depot drums Fire main Fire alarms Occurrence of Bushfire The likely cause of bushfire at the Ellendale Mine site could comprise of lightning, escape from camp fires or planned burning operations, escape from industrial activities such as mining or forestry, damage to power transmission lines, discarded cigarette butts and also from deliberate arson. Sources of potential harm The sources of potential harm might entail a number of supplementary activities that do not openly engage in the lighting of a fire, but still present a fire risk (Scott, 2009). Some examples of such activities comprise of; the use of a tractor or self-propelled mining machines during prohibited burning time lest the vehicle complies with the strict engine and exhaust specifications, the carriage and storage of incendiary materials, blasting of rocks in the mines, welding and use of certain power tools, fireworks and burning match or cigarette (BHP Billiton, 2008). Dangerous bushfire are rampant during dry seasons and mostly related with two or more of the following factors: occurrence of an extended drought period, lower than average rainfall through winter, persistent south-west to north-west winds in late winter or early spring, prolific amounts of fuel that could have accumulated over previous heavy and vigorous growing seasons and spring or summer thunderstorm activity in dry years. Basic prevention of Bushfire Avoid the risk: by deciding not to proceed with activity likely to generate the bush fire risk Trim down the hazard: lessen the extent of fuel existing at the site that may lead to the burning of a bush fire Lessen vulnerability: raise the buoyancy of community and ecological assets en route for bush fires Residual risk: deal with fire reaction strategies for example, fire containment operations, premature fire uncovering as well as evacuation. Reduce or remove ignitions Elimination of flammable objects a paramount bushfire management component in a mining site. This is primarily imperative onsite objects are combustible thus subject to severe weather conditions. Herman and Howitt (2010) point out those sources exterior flammable objects to the mining site may comprise of illegal burning, car dumping, wrongly discarded cigarette butts and sometimes the intentional lighting of bushfire. Whereas on-site sources include hot exhausts from transport vehicles and spark or flame from drilling machines such as grinders or welders. Other sources of fire explosion that may lead to bushfire consist of lighting, the arcing of power lines as well as the getaway of fire from legal detonation. The initial response procedure As an employee or contractor one is advised or expected to make the first effort at extinguishing or containing the outbreak of fire on his or her area of operation. The above will be possible if the employee consider it safe to do so at no risk to a colleague Prompt judgment call on whether the fire can be immediately and safely extinguished or contained with limited available resources It is important to notify relevant agencies and evacuate employees and movable equipments to a safe place Under the Australian Workplace Health and Safety Act, its stated that it is the personal responsibility of all workers to protect themselves and their fellow workers from injury when working in any role. The resources and equipment required for initial response The following personal protective equipment is necessary for initial response to bush fire and must be worn when responding to a fire incident on individual operation. The effects of heat are greatly reduced by wearing the right clothes, using safety equipment and reducing the amount of skin surface exposed to the heat (Herman and Howitt, 2010). Synthetic fabrics should be avoided as they are hazardous if worn while responding to a fire. Helmet Steel cap boots Eye protection Leather gloves Hearing protection Stockpile sprays Fire extinguishers The documentation required and staff training requirements Employees must be constantly aware of the dangers inherent in bush fires and be trained so that any risk is responded to automatically and correctly. Fire training for company employees and documentation for necessary plans and procedures are mandatory. Company employees are trained in basic fire fighting by attending WA Mines Rescue Training. This training is compulsory for miners and is carried out annually. Neal and Brenda (1995) assert that compulsory trainings impart necessary skills and knowledge to employees making them capable of operating fire-fighting equipment on site. It’s vital that all relevant personnel are adequately trained in bush fire awareness, but they should remember, with that limited training they are not bush fire fighters. In case of fire breaks, they should try to use the equipments in their disposal to put off fire. However, personnel safety and ongoing risk assessment will determine how much or how little one may be able to accomplish. Western Australian Emergency Response Standard specifies requirements or documentation essential to manage risks associated with bushfire. The documentation comprise of: Risk Management and Emergency Response Procedure On-Site Fire and Explosive Hazard Management Plan-it aids to spotting the fire hazards, and list the resources, procedures, equipment and inspections that are essential in upholding a fire prevention system. Emergency Fire Provisions – illustrates the facilities present at the mining site to set aside for a satisfactory fire fighting capacity. Emergency Management System – delineate a standard set of necessary procedures and responses en route for the effective management of some occasion, danger, damage or tragedy resulting from any source at the site, especially where the applicable Critical Safety Hazard Management Plan has been rendered unsuccessful in curbing the primary hazard (NSW Rural Fire Service, 2008). Emergency Response Procedure – illustrates the primary actions required in response to a fire or other urgent situation by individuals working at the mine. A description to workers what they need in case of emergency and what actions to take STEP ACTIONS TO TAKE- during Outbreak of fire 1 Try to extinguish fire 2 Press the alarm 3 Report by telephoning 000 and ask for the Fire Service to the location and include your name 4 Notify other relevant agencies The procedures for the second response phase. An action list and time line would be appropriate If bushfire has occurs, a number of action should be undertaken in the second phase response, this may include: Apply first aid. Do not move the injured person unless agreed to by a qualified first aider Call Radio Company Base for help, stating the following: What has happened Exact location of bush fire Number of injured personnel Special considerations such as access difficulties Stand by radio if possible for advice or further instructions. Communicating to others in the work place on how to contribute in the event of emergency During a bushfire, the management of Kimberly Diamond Company at Ellendale Mine site in conjunction with controlling agency will provide as much information as possible to individuals at the workplace and to potentially affected communities around by utilising all possible means of communication available (Denning, 2006). The communication may entail how they are supposed to contribute in case of emergency and make sure they are safe. The communication could also reflect on the level of risk, about its rising or decreasing extent and time. The three basic levels of communication are ADVICE: announced when fire has started and there is no immediate danger, this is general information to keep employees informed and up to date with developments. WATCH AND ACT: announced when fire is approaching and conditions are changing, employees need to leave their place of work and get prepared to actively defend and protect their work property and environment (Western Australia, 2011). EMERGENCY WARNING: announced to alert employees that they are in danger and need to take immediate action to survive as they may be impacted by fire. This communication may start with a siren sound called the Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS). Hazard Risk register with comparison of before and after controls Descriptors Before After Bushfire risks of the site High Low Distance between buildings on the most prominent vegetation Same Same Other hazard risks of the site (estimate the extent) Wild fire Fire within site Electricity interference Burning matches Fireworks High High Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Population of employees 300 298 Number of staff who are volunteers 20 55 Disability 2 6 Transport to and from the site Walk/ride Drive Predominant construction of the building on the site Walls Roofs Timber Steel tiles/sheets Concrete Steel tiles/sheets Predominant type of window glass at the site Standard Fire protected Storage of flammable materials Good Best Emergency assembly point Open field Open field Fire protection systems Functional Tested & verified Fire protection equipments Available Available Portable fire extinguishers Accessible Accessible & appropriate Water supply Water tank Water tanks, public water mains First aid kits Restocked Restocked regularly Emergency procedures Available Updated regularly Evaluation of the effectiveness of the implemented emergency response strategies INCIDENT LEVELS (Routine) DESCRIPTORS AND ACTION NOTE: All incidents are regarded as Level 1 unless declared otherwise. The following actions are in addition to the effectiveness of the implemented emergency response strategies. LEVEL 1 Timeframe-within 8 hours A Level 1 incident is characterized by being able to be resolved through the use local or initial response within few hours. Being relatively minor, all functions of incident management are generally undertaken by the one response agency and helped by employees. Fire Agencies to be informed about the bushfire Local Agency (DEC & IMT) to take control of bushfire LEVEL 2 (Extended) Level 2 incidents are more complex either in size, resources, risk or community impact DEC to help in control bushfires preformed IMTs should be utilised Bushfire status to be regularly reported LEVEL 3 (Major/Complex) Level 3 incidents are long-drawn-out, outsized and resource demanding. They could have an effect on the community and the entire public infrastructure, and may call for the institutionalisation of divisions for successful managing of the state of affairs. These instances will typically entail designation of all the Incident Management tasks The plan is required to be appraised regularly at specified intervals in line with the audit results and set standards of relevant authorities (BHP Billiton, 2008). Update should be given while taking into consideration new information, course of action and necessities of external agencies as well as external corporation necessities to boost competence and timelessness in consultation with stakeholders and with appropriate specialists advisors as well as agencies. According to Comfort (2007), this will therefore call for promptly and appropriately documenting and reporting results of monitoring to managers and stakeholders. All personnel on the work site must be contactable at all times. It’s important that all communication on site is effective, particularly in the event of a fire. This communication may include verbal, written, hand signals/body language, mobile phone and UHF/VHF radio. References BHP Billiton (2008) Health, Safety, Environment and Community Standard STA.009 Comfort, L. K. (2007). Crisis Management in Hindsight: Cognition, Communication, Coordination, and Control,” Public Administration Review, December 2007. Denning, P. J. (2006). Hastily Formed Networks: Collaboration in the Absence of Authority, Reflections, Journal of the Society for Organizational Learning, Volume 7, Number 1. Herman, B. L. and Howitt, A.M. (September 2010). Organizing Response to Extreme Emergencies. The Victorian Bushfires of 2009. Harvard University Howitt, A.M. and Herman B. L. (2009). Managing Crises: Responses to Large-Scale Emergencies, Washington, DC: CQ Press. Neal, D. M. and Brenda D. P. (1995). Effective Emergency Management: Reconsidering the Bureaucratic Approach, Disasters, Volume 19, Number 4, 1995. NSW Rural Fire Service (2008) Illawarra Bush Fire Risk Management Plan Occupational Health And Safety Act Rural Fires Act 1997 Standards Australia (1999) AS3959 Requirements for the Design and Construction of Buildings In Bushfire Prone Areas Scott, E. (2009). Hurricane Katrina (B): Responding to an “Ultra-Catastrophe” in New Orleans, Cambridge, MA: John F. Kennedy School of Government. Western Australia (November 2011) State Emergency Management Plan For Bushfire – WestPlan Bushfire. Prepared by The Fire & Emergency Services Authority in consultation with Department of Environment & Conservation and WA Local Government Association Read More