Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
AURA INC EXPERIENCE
IN CHILE
EU. Sergio Franco A.
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
AURA INC EXPERIENCE
IN CHILE
EU. Sergio Franco A.
PURPOSE
Publicize:
• Experiences in face of seismic events of great magnitud in
Aura Inc. mountain facilities in Chile.
• The work by Risk Prevention and Health and Safety Join
Committee, implementing Guidelines, Plans and Programs to
face Emergencies and mitigate these events.
• Aura Inc. potential, in Chile, to face seismic events of great
magnitude, its capacity for reaction, its organization and
available resources to face this kind of situations.
ESTANCIA
EL TOTORAL
Lat : 6.653.643.0
Long: 333.083.3
Elevac.: 2.200 - 2.700
35 – 45 Kms. mountain
roads
* 1:00 – 1:20 hrs. to Vicuña
* 1:30 – 1:45 hrs. to La Serena
IMPORTANT SEISMIC EVENTS
IV REGION - CHILE
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July 1971
March 1975
March 1985
Oct. 1997
June 2002
7.7 E.R. / Illapel (Antofagasta – Valdivia)
7.5 E.R. / Coquimbo - La Serena
8.0 E.R. / Algarrobo (II-IX Reg.)
6.8 E.R. / Punitaqui
6.3 E.R. / IV Región
• Earthquakes since 1962 = 12 events
RISK PREVENTION STANDARDS
IMPLEMENTED BY AURA INC., IN CHILE
- Shelves safely fasten to wall.
- Heavy or easily breakable
objects should be placed on
lower shelf.
- Heavy objects (pictures or
similar) shouldn’t hang over bed
top ends or sofas.
- Remove
from
roofs
and
platforms all elements that
could move or fall in case of
earthquake.
RISK PREVENTION STANDARDS
IMPLEMENTED BY AURA INC., IN CHILE
- Regular maintenance of electrical and
gas systems to avoid fires.
- Flexible joints provided between gas
system and appliances.
- Yearly maintenance for fire
extinguishers and hydrostatic test
every 5 years.
- Monthly tests and yearly maintenance
for detectors, panels and fire alarms.
BASIC RISK PREVENTION STANDARDS
IMPLEMENTED BY AURA INC., IN CHILE
- Flammable bottled materials,
insecticides, and similar must be
placed in special cupboards, apart
from buildings, not too high and
closed to avoid spilling.
- Put the Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS) for each site in
an established place.
- Train staff to use MSDS.
RISK PREVENTION STANDARDS
IMPLEMENTED BY AURA INC., IN CHILE
- Identify and demarcate safest areas, inside
buildings (for protection during the
earthquake) .
- Identify safest and fastest evacuation
routes.
- Define Safety Areas (outdoors); far from
structures, buildings, high trees, hill edges,
etc.
- Every worker must have been trained on how
to shut down gas, electricity and water supply
in his/her habitual workplace and in bedrooms.
- Keep a basic night emergency kit in every
building (one per floor or building) including
bedrooms buildings.
RISK PREVENTION STANDARDS
IMPLEMENTED BY AURA INC., IN CHILE
- Set up an operation and encounter area for
all staff and visitors as a way to register
people more easily.
- As a part of safety plan, a drill must be
carried out at least once a year.
- Staff evacuation from the summit should be
carried out if allowed by Observatory
safety conditions.
IF YOU ARE INSIDE A BUILDING
- Stay calm and observe nearest surroundings.
- Identify emergency exits.
- Don’t be overcome by panic (a strong earth tremor
will last for less than one minute).
- Don’t go out unless the building deserves it or you are
near a free exit without danger outside.
- Warn people around you that they should shelter.
- Pay attention to objects that may fall.
IF YOU ARE INSIDE A BUILDING
- In the kitchen, switch off cooker.
- Be careful with hot pots contents.
- Minimize body mass sitting down or in fetal position in a safe
place and protect your head (for example, beside or under a
strong piece of furniture, beside a vehicle, etc. / protective
triangle).
If there are no furniture, go to a corner in a little office or in a
corridor with strong walls.
IF YOU ARE INSIDE A BUILDING
- Avoid getting near high, wide walls, windows, shelves,
staircases, and at the center of large halls.
- Do not use lifts. The earthquake may damage their structure
and rails; you may get shut in.
- Do not run. You would loose control over surrounding
elements and may get injured. Just walk and remain
attentive.
Door frames aren’t necessarily the safest places, because of
the rocking of the door itself and/or because its structures
aren’t as strong as expected.
IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS
- Observe the surroundings looking for hazards
identifying them.
- Get apart form buildings, structures, trees, hill edges.
- Remain outside until the motion stops.
and
IF YOU ARE INSIDE A VEHICLE
- Stop the vehicle and stay in the protective triangle. If there
is no landslide threat you may stay inside.
- When the telluric motion is over act carefully.
- Drive carefully and report the situation.
- Watch out, aftershocks will come.
- Remain alert and vigilant to road condition (landslides,
moving and falling rocks); inspect bridges before crossing,
the structure may be damaged or shifted.
AFTER ...
The state of emergency is implemented.
The Emergency Team is activated with available members.
The emergency check list is activated.
Staff and visitors in the summit are registered.
If somebody is missing, the search and/or rescue process is
organized and initiated.
Help is provided to injured.
Support to emotional reactions of affected people.
Support to visitors, the elderly and children.
Visits scattering must be controlled.
Vehicular traffic must suspend until road inspection is completed.
AFTER ...
- Damage assessment to:
. Gas circuit
. Water
. Electric power
. Comunications
. Fuel
The Site Manager, advised by respective Technical
staff and Emergency Team Head, will authorize
supply resumption on-the-spot.
AFTER ...
- Do not light matches or cigarettes.
- Initial assessment of damage in buildings.
- If necessary, close down access to
buildings until specialized assessment is
carried out.
- Control flammable and/or toxic liquids
spills (according to risk assessment) / The place is
immediately cut off.
- Areas with fire hazard are defined and
fire extinguishers are provided.
AFTER ...
- Do not walk barefooted, there may be glass
and sharp objects on the floor.
- Gather water in large containers, the supply
may be cut off.
- Be prepared for aftershocks, they may
happen for months after the earthquake,
and may add new damage to already
damaged structures.
- Do not go along or stay near hill edges until
hazards and damages have been assessed
for every place defined as high risk.
- Stay outside damages buildings.
- Do not walk or drive needlessly.
AFTER ...
- Be careful when opening shelves or
furniture after earthquake, some elements
may have moved and may fall on people.
- At the beginning, communications will be
exclusively for emergency control.
Keep on watching radio and TV to get
informed of emergency and possible
instructions from communal authority.
AURA INC TELESCOPE FACILITIES IN CHILE
Far away from important cities
We conclude that, in case of emergency:
Possibility of help from outside: practically nil
The Observatory must have and maintain the ability
to bear the contingency by itself, with teams
formally trained to deal with simple and collective
accidents, disasters and catastrophes.
In the mountains, the time of a high magnitude telluric
contingency is highly critical.
• If it happens at daytime: more people are available
but also the odds that somebody is involved in a
critical situation increases.
• If it happens at night, on a weekend or holiday:
there are only staff o duty and then, less ability
to respond to critical situations.
• Saturday, at visit time: there are around 50
persons per group (morning and afternoon),
visitors handling will be difficult as they will tend
to leave the summit on their own and by their own
means.
POTENTIALITIES IN EMERGENCY EVENT
MONTAIN AOSS
• Professional Nurses at Tololo trained for
Emergency Handling.
Paramedic Staff at Cerro Pachón with Basic
Emergency Handling Course.
• Two Ambulances for basic transportation
fitted for injured evacuation / Cerro Tololo
and Pachón.
• Fire Engine for initial Fire control.
• 222 fire extinguishers, strategically placed
according to international standards.
POTENTIALITIES IN EMERGENCY EVENT
MONTAIN AOSS
• Emergency Teams (Tololo and Pachón) with basic level
training for emergencies handling and better
response abilities at daytime and work days.
• There Are Emergency Plans approved by the
Organization and CPHS for several contingencies
in the Observatory, including the Building
Evacuation Plan, proven through drills.
• Equipment, materials and supplies for Emergency
Team work / being improved.
POTENTIALITIES IN EMERGENCY EVENT
MONTAIN AOSS
Government Decree Nº 54 / CPHS Functions
RISK PREVENTION, HEALTH AND SAFETY
- Promotion and Advise
- Observation - Study – Analyze – Instruction - Training
- Surveillance
Hazard Control / Physical and Mental Health Protection
CPHS’ role is active and prevailing:
Stimulates, promotes, contributes, checks and participates
in Planes and Programs implementation to face Emergencies,
including Earthquakes.
POTENTIALITIES IN EMERGENCY EVENT
MONTAIN AOSS
• Cerro Tololo and Pachón canteens
are supplied and autonomous enough
to endure easily one week isolation
at the summit.
• Water self supply for a couple of
weeks, without pumping water from
main source at San Carlos (possible
rationing).
• Means for sectored gas storage for
canteens, heating and hot water in
every building.
POTENTIALITIES IN EMERGENCY EVENT
MONTAIN AOSS
• New heavy machinery to clear and set up
roads.
• Heavy machinery operator.
• Power generation groups for self supply
(rationing periods).
• Fuel (gas and fuel oil) supply, if used
rationally and according to stock, can
cover needs for vehicle traffic, power
generation and heavy equipment operation.
POTENTIALITIES IN EMERGENCY EVENT
MONTAIN AOSS
• Means for people’s evacuation, once the road
conditions have been assessed and hazards
are under control // Buses, micro-buses,
SUV, vans.
• High standards buildings to face telluric
contingencies.
• No open air power lines near vehicle or
human traffic areas.
• Accommodations for own emergency crews
and possible external support teams.
POTENTIALITIES IN EMERGENCY EVENT
MONTAIN AOSS
• Autonomous means to support radio
communication / 2 repeaters;
• Remote radio stations system for
emergency communication; one station
every 5 km on access roads to
Observatories.
• HF waveband radio equipment will be
operating in the future.
• Project for satellite telephones in the
Organization’s sites in Chile.
EMERGENCY
RADIOE STATIONS
ROAD
Nº 1
Nº 2
Nº 3
Nº 4
Nº 5
Nº 6
= Km 27 Baracoa
= Km 22 Cifuentes
= Km 18 La Cancha
= Km 12 Placeres
= Km 9 Mollacas
= Km 5 El Quisco
Nº 7 = Km 9 Z Sector
Nº 8 = Km 5 El Pozo
EMERGENCY CREWS, EQUIPMENT AND
MATERIALS
Emergency crews assigned to the summit:
• Driver / Mechanic / Heavy machinery operator
• Cook
• Janitor
• Electrician
• Electronic Engineer
• Plumbing and Cryogenics
• Nurses and Paramedics
Equipment or Machinery to clear and set up roads
• D-6 Bulldozer
• Scraper
• Front loader
• Hopper truck
EMERGENCY CREWS, EQUIPMENT
AND MATERIALS
Staff transportation
• Bus
• Carry all
• SUV and vans
Transportation and evacuation of injured people
• Ambulances (2) / Drivers athorized with special licence
Other vehicles for emergency handling
• Fire Engine
• Yale Stacker Crane
• Heavy equipment
• Truck with cistern
REQUIRED TRAINING COURSES
EMERGENCY TEAMS :
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Basic Trauma Handling (retraining)
RCP in PCR and DEA equipment handling
Hydraulic Extrication Equipment handling
Handling and Rescue in Collapsed Structures
Fire fighting (retraining) Water, Fire and use of fire
extinguishers
Basic Mountain Handling and Rescue
Psychology of Emergency
Communications / Use of equipments available in the
organization
Emergency command (disaster handling)
Initial damage assessment in buildings and structures
HIGH RISK AREAS
Inspections will be performed in every building twice a
year to update the risk sheet
Technicians Building
. Large windows
. Gym structure
. Gas heater
. Ceiling panels
ROB Building
. Large windows
. Gas / heating system
. Ceiling panels
. Unprotected fluorescent lights
. Unfixed library shelves (isolated)
HIGH RISK AREAS
Road:
. Hill edges and gorges
. “Placeres” bridge
. “3 Tubos” bridge (Km 13)
. Landslides
. Crevices
Canteen and Kitchen
. Large windows
. Tendency to evacuate towards
Quebrada San Carlos area (hill edge)
. Kind of ceilings
. Hanging lamps
. Gas
. Cauldrons with hot water or food
HIGH RISK AREAS
Outsides
. Gas storage
. Fuel storage / Gas and Fuel Oil
. Water tanks
. AGA cryogenic tank
. Tall trees
. Collapsed commercial power lines
HIGH RISK AREAS
Telescope areas
• People trapped in lifts and funicular
• Fall of instruments and equipments
• Equipments and instruments in high
place
• Stairs
• Shelves
• Stability of Domes and Shutters
HIGH RISK AREAS
Telescope areas
• Cryogenics gases
• Very tall antennas
• Evacuation route (Visits hall)
• Large windows in M floor (visits)
• Nitrogen and CO2 cylinders in wheel carts
• Ceiling in “Las Tacas” building
SUPPORT PLAN
• Diffusion of Risk Prevention Plan in
case of Earthquake and every worker
must take part in it.
• Clearly identify evacuation routes with
proper signs in every building.
• Identify higher risk areas and
increase needed prevention means in
them.
• Tell staff about specific risks in
workplace and sleeping rooms; how to
act in face of an emergency and how to
control risks.
SUPPORT PLAN
• Publicize and post in visible places outlines for
various contingencies (in this case, for a
possible earthquake).
• Provide necessary authority to “Emergency
command”
• The Organization supports Emergency Team
work, to obtain participation, training and
safety levels needed to face emergencies.
SUPPORT PLAN
Should remain permanently operative :
• Emergency Team’s personal safety resources.
• Implements,
machines
and
tools
Emergency Team’s autonomous work.
for
• Supply and appropriate renewal of medical
material: equipment, supplies, medicines and
materials for emergency handling.
Consider as nil the possibility of external
support from community authorities; they also
face emergencies in their respective
jurisdictions.
SUPPORT PLAN
• VHF communication equipment renewal.
• Enable HF wavebands.
• Development of satellite phones in
Observation Centers and in La Serena
Recinto for internal and abroad
communication.
• Projected possibility of evacuation
through air rescue services.
FORMS AND INFORMATION
• Publicize outlines and plans for each area
• Emergency procedures
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Procedures check list
Damage reports / Forms for each area
Injured report
Staff training report
Support from Mutual Body
Support from Fire Brigade
CHECK LIST FOR EARTHQUAKE EVENT
BEFORE THE EVENT…
Emergency Plan : develop Earthquake Event / Annual review
Emergency Plan : develop Building Evacuation
Publicize Emergency Plans and Self-protection Systems for Earthquake Event
Publicize Damage Assessment and Effect Mitigation Plan for Earthquake Event
Permanent review of “Basics Standards for Risk Prevention for Earthquake Event”
Earthquake Event Drills every 6 months, with Building Evacuation
Review and maintenance every 3 months: signs for evacuation routes and safety areas
Review and maintenance every 3 months: materials and equipment for emergency handling
Review and maintenance every 3 months: radio communications systems and equipment
High Risk Areas Definition / Signs / Handling and Control over these Areas
Institutional support with budget defined for Emergency Team development
- Official List for Emergency Team Members / with training carried out
- Review every 3 months: materials and equipment for Emergency Team
- Support to Training Plan for Emergency Team
- Coordinate support from : Fire Brigade / Mutual / External Experts
CHECK LIST FOR EARTHQUAKE EVENT
EARTQUAKE EVENT / INMEDIATELY …
On duty staff Check list / Report in ROB
Define command / among on-the-spot active staff
Search unreported persons
Rescue and care of possible casualties / Priority Evacuation
Initial assessment / defined per priority
Assess secondary risk conditions / Gas - Power - Fuel – Communications
Damage evaluation per area
Immediate closure of collapsed structures or risk areas
AFTER…:
Communications restoration (radio communication) and alternative systems
Situation and current conditions pre-report
Road conditions assessment
Emergency groups / Emergency Team
Canteen – General services - Transportation - Others
Staff evacuation from summit
Contact with Observatory authorities
Reports
IMPLEMENT:
• Planned emergency plans for workers’
homes.
• Contingency handling in the family
• Means for captive worker to
communicate with his/her family
• Facilities
• Permanent maintenance of Plans and
Programs is vitally important to face
emergencies.
• Remain fully aware that it’s
necessary to train and implement
The Emergency Team.
It’s necessary to improve Emergency Team resources
to ensure efficient and effective response in face of emergencies
• It is a fundamental, primary priority, over
any discussion point or analysis, to keep
“human assets” safe; property comes later.
• The Organization’s Joint Committees and
Emergency Team, should increase their
work to protect workers in case of high
magnitude and high risk emergency events.
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Success will depend of:
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Organization support
Staff adhesion to Emergency Plans
Human resources’ incentive and motivation
Material resources endowment to face emergencies
Proper training in Emergency Handling matters.
EU. Sergio Franco Alcayaga
Instructor, Rescue Expert
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake
Earthquake