Apple Inc Occupational Emergency Response Plan - Research Paper Example

? APPLE INC OCCUPATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN At every working environment, there are always somerisk factors, which pose occupational risks, and which necessitates an organization to have in place specific mitigation measures in preparation to such an emergency as would occur. An occupational emergency response plan is therefore a tool that is designed and applied by organizations to ensure general preparedness for responding to such unplanned for cases as would arise. Apple Inc is an American multinational organization, which specializes on design and manufacture of computer software, consumer electronics as well as personal computers among other specializations. Just as is the case within all other working environments, the ‘occupational emergency response plan’ is very relevant to the organization especially for such emergencies as injuries that would be sustained in the process of computer assembly as well as in operation of the machines during production. This paper therefore intends to develop an occupational emergency response plan for the Apple Inc organization as a mandatory and necessary tool within any working environment. The Apple Inc has a commitment to providing safe and secure working environment to its employees and as such takes any possible way to eliminate any hazard at work places in order to protect all people and in the process reduce the cases of illnesses or injuries at work place. For instance, within the suppliers ‘code of conduct’ of the organization, the organization’s commitment is to ensure all working conditions within the supply chain are safe and that employees are treated in a dignified manner as well as environmental safety is maintained for the well being of all (‘Apple Inc.’, 2009). The EPA as well as the OSHA has taken an active role in ensuring that organizations adopt an active role towards ensuring the safety of the working conditions within which their employees are. They require that organizations develop such occupational emergency response frameworks through which resources as well as specific responses towards particular situations are outlined and which often are refined regularly. Basic elements that are expected in a good response plan are up to date contacts of persons responsible for various duties within an organization in case of an emergency as well as ensuring that all departments as well as facilities work as stipulated within the plan to avoid confusion . Besides, it is as well necessary to stipulate resources to be used in case of such an emergency at work place (Hamel, 2012). The Apple Inc is obligated to have thoroughly trained response team personnel who would be set to offer immediate response in case of any emergency. The plan should specifically outline the procedures and routes of escape in case of such an emergency as a fire, special assignments obligated on specific persons in response to any hazard and proper system through which employees will be accounted for after such a hazard. Besides, the plan should have a well stipulated mechanism of detection and communication of such a hazard as a fire within the working plant and immediate response procedures such as switching off the power mains. Therefore, the key elements that must be represented in an emergency plan within any organization are management structure, emergency responsibilities and assignments for emergencies as well as general procedures that employees should follow in cases of emergencies. This is because the main aim in developing the plan is to ensure that safety for employees within the organization is guaranteed against any hazard that faces the organization. Apple Inc occupational emergency response plan 1.0 Introduction: The following is a sample model of ‘Apple Inc occupational emergency response plan’ to a fire hazard. The organization’s activities in assembly and packaging of the computer systems occur within housing facilities, which are susceptible to fire outbreaks. Causes of such fires are such as faulty electric supplies, faulty manufacturing systems as well as such related human errors that have the capacity to result to fire outbreaks. a) Frequent evaluations and annual reviews will be conducted on the plan to necessitate appropriate improvements where necessary. b) All employees within all plant departments will be hosted for an evacuation drill in the beginning of each month in order to keep with informing new entrants on best practices in hazard management within the organization. c) The management of the particular plant is responsible to oversee that this plan is up-to-date and that any changes necessary periodically are fixed besides ensuring that all employees are well equipped with this response plan as early as during occupation orientation. 1.2 Hazard Evaluation: The Apples Inc organization’s main occupational hazard is fire outbreak especially for the reason that electricity is the main supply of power, which is, needed in assembly of computer systems and such other appliances as are made there. However, there are other potential threats that may be considered eventual hazards such as terror attacks by bombs, medical emergencies as well as manmade/natural disasters like earthquakes. Nevertheless, this paper has special attention on the fire hazard within the organization. 1.3 Detection: the nest protects is a new invention, which can be applied in the plants to detect and raise alarm in the event of a smoke or fire. It is a home appliance, which works in more or less a similar manner as the thermostat but with main difference notable on the capacity to have it differentiate the magnitude of smoke detected. Upon detection of smoke, the appliance speaks to the owner and thus communicating of the impending danger as fire outbreak or loss of food through burning. When the alarms go off, all employees should evacuate the plant to a central place ‘fire assembly point’ from where other emergency procedures can commence. However, special personnel will have specific duties to ensure all employees have been safely evacuated, and that power mains are switched off. 1.4 Communication of fire: The Company should ensure that fire response alarms are fixed within the buildings and that they are in good condition to respond to any fire detection. Other variables such as public systems and portable radio units among other tools that can be used to notify employees of such emergencies must be in place. In case of power outage in an emergency, the organization should have in place mechanisms to supply auxiliary power for such power alarms. 1.5 Fire instructions: Such specialized team members should follow four basic steps in the event of the hazard, which include sounding the alarm, use all means to inform others of the fire, contain the fire through such fire equipments available as the fire cylinders as well as evacuate everyone if necessary. All plant managements should endeavor to inform all employees on the emergency exit routes as well as the common places of assembly in order to make such an emergency response effective and easy to all. a) Special cases: all physically handicapped personnel will have special attention from such designated team of fire response in order to ensure that they are at safety. b) Emergency procedures to shut down operating machines within the plant should be clearly provided through posting on the wall or actual machines in order to improve on the response mechanism towards a fire hazard. c) Employee accountability after evacuation: it is the responsibility of the management through effective delegation to ensure that headcount of all employees is done at the assembly point in order to ensure and understand whether all persons are safe or otherwise for the reason of subsequent procedures. d) Besides, the organization has an already running sign-in log through which it is possible to understand the employees present in every day for the sake of effectively responding to such a emergency. e) Rescue processes and medical duties: the plant management will be responsible of establishing effective relations with medical suppliers and emergency response correspondences who are to be contacted in the event of such an emergency and hence the need to maintain an updated contact reference. 1.6 Responsibilities and duties: this occupational emergency plan acknowledges the effectiveness of sharing out responsibilities to individual persons in the respective plants, which will be effective in avoiding replication of emergency services as well as to ensure efficiency in coordination. i. Manager: should take over all responsibilities in ensuring that mitigation and response measures to such a fire emergency are well coordinated. ii. Incidence commander: should be a member of management team or such a designee whose specific role is to oversee effective coordination and delegation of particular duties to the specific members assigned to. iii. Incident team: these are special persons who are accorded special training for the particular response responsibilities they are to take up within the plant in such an event of a fire emergency. It is however to be noted that they are part of employee fraternity who are distinct in particular capabilities and skills. 1.7 Training: every Apple Inc plan is required to have basic orientation training to new employees in order to equip them with such necessary skills for personal protection as well as in practicing safety measure for the welfare of all employees and the general property (Berry & Bogner, 2005). References ‘Apple Inc.’, (2009). Apple Supplier Code of Conduct. Version 3.1. Retrieved on Dec 12, 2013 from: http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/pdf/Supplier_Code_of_Conduct_V3_1.pdf Berry C. K. and Bogner J. R. (2005). Model emergency response plan. Retrieved on Dec 12, 2013 from: http://www.nclabor.com/osha/consult/sampleprograms/hazwop.pdf Hamel K. D., (2012). Five Ways to Ensure Response Plans Really Work. Occupational Health & Safety. Retrieved on Dec 12, 2013 from: http://ohsonline.com/Articles/2012/06/01/Five-Ways-to-Ensure-Response-Plans-Really-Work.aspx Read More