Page 15 - HAZWOPR - Refresher Student Manual

An “Emergency Response” is defined as a response effort by employees from outside the immediate
release area or by other designated responders (i.e., mutual aid groups, local fire departments, etc.) to
an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance.
An emergency response plan shall be developed and implemented to handle anticipated
emergencies. The plan shall be in writing and available for inspection at any time. Employers who
evacuate their employees from the worksite are exempt from the requirements of paragraph 29 CFR
1910.38.

Elements of an emergency response plan:
• Pre-emergency planning and • Evacuation routes and procedures
coordination with outside parties
• Decontamination
• Personnel roles, including lines of
authority, training, and • Emergency medical treatment and
communication first aid

• Emergency recognition and • Emergency alerting and response
procedure procedures

• Safe distances and places of refuge • Critique of response and follow-up
• Site security and control • PPE and emergency equipment

Procedures for handling emergency response:
1. The senior responding emergency response official shall become the individual in charge of a
site-specific ICS

2. The ICS commander shall identify, to the fullest extent possible, all hazardous substance or
conditions present
3. The ICS commander shall implement appropriate emergency operations and assure that
appropriate PPE is worn

4. Employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to potentially hazardous substances
shall wear positive pressure SCBS while engaged in emergency response

5. The ICS commander shall limit the number of emergency response personnel at the emergency
site
6. Back up personnel shall be standing by with equipment ready to provide assistance or rescue.

7. The ICS commander shall identify a safety officer who is knowledgeable in the operation being
implemented at the emergency response site

8. When the safety officer judges activities to be IDLH and /or involve an imminent danger
condition, he has the authority to terminate those activities.

9. After emergency operations have been terminated, the ICS commander shall implement
appropriate decontamination procedures.
10. When deemed necessary, approved SCBA may be used with approved cylinders from other
approved SCBA provided that such cylinders are of the same capacity and pressure rating.

14