Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning Guide - Essay Example

Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning Guide Governing Principles Policy This plan has been formulated with an aim of minimizing the severity of damage to environment, human health and property in the case that an unexpected hazardous material is exposed. Scope This emergency response plan to hazardous materials covers the management of any form of hazardous material occurrence. It shall involve any form of accidental fire, accidental release of chemical waste i.e. smoke, waste water, accidental contamination of poisonous materials, injuries or even deaths that might occur in the event of a hazardous material. Authority and Responsibilities The responsibility of implementing this Hazardous Emergency Planning is to be undertaken by Municipal Government, specifically through the various departments within the Municipal Government. Organizational Roles and Responsibilities of the Arms of the Municipal Government Chief Elected Official The chief elected official shall be in-charge of providing the overall co-ordination to the Hazardous Emergency Response team management. He/she shall oversee the operations of the departments and provide further guidance needed in regard to undertaking responsibilities in various departments. In addition, the Chief Elected Official shall chair and over-see the planning committee in charge of making plans associated with emergency hazard management. Emergency Management Director The director shall be responsible for making arrangements to coordinate the Municipal’s Emergency Response Plan for Hazardous materials as well as necessary hazardous emergency services with the Hazardous management Committee, the Local Hazardous Management Team i.e. Fire Department, Local Police et cetera. He/she shall hold annual meetings with the Emergency Hazardous Response Team in an annual basis in order to facilitate determination of challenges faced by the team, thus formulating effective solutions for the identified challenges. In addition the Emergency Management Director shall facilitate the establishment of a mass notification channel in the case that an unexpected Hazardous incident occurs. On the other hand, he/she shall coordinate emergency preparedness sessions for refresher training for the Emergency Response Team as well as the Municipal Employees as required by the department. The Management Director shall also oversee or coordinate frequent exercises geared towards testing the efficacy of emergency management plans, equipment and making necessary improvements. Moreover, the Management Director shall be responsible for conducting an annual hazard threat as well as vulnerability assessments in order to facilitate emergency funding procurement and other aspects of budgeting. In collaboration with other Emergency Response Team members, the Emergency Director shall conduct public awareness programs and educations in order to prepare the locals for emergency cases. In the case that there is state, local or even federal meetings organized by the government to discuss issues ascribed to response towards emergency hazards and public safety, the Emergency Management Director shall attend to facilitate networking and improve services provided by the Emergency Hazardous Management department. Additionally, the Emergency Management Director shall be responsible for provision of advice and expertise knowledge on issues ascribed to Emergency Hazard management. In some cases, he/she shall act as a liaison between the Emergency Response Team/ Emergency Hazardous Department and the Government or even the Municipal Government. Communication Personnel The role of communication may be undertaken by various personnel i.e. the Elected Chief Official may take this responsibility or even the Emergency Management Director. This role also involves contacting relevant authorities for assistance for instance: The police department may be contacted in the case of an emergency hazardous incident; the fire department may also be contacted as well as the Emergency response team, which is usually given the first priority. On scene communication processes is also another role that may be performed by the Communication Personnel. However, this role shall be specifically performed by the On-scene Commander or even the on call safety officer that shall be responsible for contacting relevant departments as well as the relevant personnel. Moreover, the Communication personnel shall also contacted external emergency hazardous response companies for assistance especially in the case that more assistance or man-power is need at the scene. External companies shall also be contacted by the communication personnel with an intention of providing absorbent services, provision of personal protective equipment et cetera. In some cases, the communication personnel through the on-scene incident commander shall ensure that the local population is provided with adequate information regarding the activities of the Emergency Response Team or even information related to evacuation. Fire Service The role of the fire service in an emergency fire accident shall entail; protecting people as well as property from fire and even fight fires. The fire service shall also undertake a role of rescuing people from Road accidents and provide assistance as directed by the department in dealing with other accidental emergencies such as: Rescuing people from incidences of terrorist attacks and even incidences of floods et cetera. In the case that there are some community needs that require expertise to handle, the fire service shall be directed by the Officers in charge to provide such assistance for instance: Providing skills and authorities to in order to enhance their capacities to handle accidents and other risks. The fire service shall also ensure that the local fire service authorities and other governing bodies do not engage in activities that are not stipulated within the Fire prevention and management act. Law Enforcement The Law enforcement, which is majorly the local police officers, shall play two crucial roles in the case of an Emergency Hazardous Response. To begin with, the Law Enforcement shall ensure that they provide security and attend to the survivors of an accident when they are the first to arrive at the scene. In addition, it shall ensure that members of the public are protected from further harm by creating a line of defense preventing passers-by and by-standers from accessing the hazardous scene. Public Health Agency The local Public Health Agencies shall also participate in Management of Hazardous Materials and Emergency Responses. Specifically, it shall undertake planning geared towards establishing or setting priorities and taking measures directed towards management of hazardous materials and other disasters. In addition, they shall work collaboratively with the Hazardous Material Management Team and other relevant stakeholders to identify potential challenges that may hinder effective hazardous material management and disaster response processes. In addition, the Public Health Agency shall ensure that proper health assistance is provided to victims of a hazardous incidents or proper health surveillance of provided to the survivors of a hazardous incident. Environmental Agency The local environmental agencies shall work collaboratively with the Hazardous Material Management Team and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that proper impact assessment of a hazardous incident is performed on the right time. Additionally, the Environmental Agency shall ensure that it provides adequate assistance in relation to skills and knowledge on how to manage prevailing hazardous incidences or even projected hazardous incidences. On the other hand, the agency shall ensure that all legal procedures and processes guarding the management of Hazardous Materials and Emergency response are properly followed by the concerned team and that the local communities are protected from further harm. Public Works The public works shall also play a crucial role in management of Hazardous Materials and Emergency response processes. To begin with the public works shall work collaboratively with the on-site team to ensure that survivors of a hazardous incidence are prevented from further or taken to safety and given the right medical attention. In the cases that there are destruction of property caused by the hazardous incidence, the public works shall facilitate cleaning processes as well as removal wreckages that might exist on the site. Relationship to Other Plans This plan has a great sense of similarity with other Emergency Response plans, for instance: It states clearly the roles and responsibilities of individuals/teams/groups and departments involved in the Emergency response processes. This is also stated in the National Emergency Response Team of the United States of America. In addition, just like the US’s National Response Team Guideline that states the operational principle of the Emergency Response Team, this plan has an operational principle that defines the scope of the plan, policy as well as authority and various responsibilities. In addition, it exhibits a sense of relationship with the National Response Team Guideline by stating the roles and responsibilities of external stakeholders such as the Environmental Agency, Public Works and the Public Health Agency in Hazardous material management. Work Cited Hunnington, Jack. Emergency planning guide. Lower Hutt, N.Z.: Hutt City, 2001. Print. Read More