Emergency Plans
AURA INC. Chile
Mario Gonzalez Kemnis
Safety and Environmental Engineer
Diciembre 2007
Training Objectives
ALL WORKERS MUST KNOW THE
EMERGENCY PLANS
 We must be able to ACT fast controlling
and minimizing the emergency as much as
possible.
 We must think about how to act if we are
involved in an uncommon event as an
emergency.
 Do not lower your guard but collaborate in
improving everything that’s up to us to
contribute to build a SAFER organization.
This is what we are working on.
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Why an emergency plan?
For our safety : We, employees, are the main asset of this
Organization.
 It’s a TOOL to know HOW to act in emergencies (who,
when, how).
 Through theoretical and practical behavior training (training
and drill) we can prevent and reduce the effects of an
emergency.
 EVACUATION: we perform them on a regular basis to
safeguard our coworkers and other people affected looking
for protection and moving appropriately to safe areas.
 EMERGENCY: it’s a situation in which we try to minimize
material damage to our organization through planning.
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Behaviors and Conducts in
Emergencies
 People’s behavior is critical and some
decisions may increase risks.
 Fear of dying causes casualties.
 Generally speaking, frequent behaviors
are:
– People with disorderly behavior = 75%
– People with confusion and anxiety = 10 and 25%
– In the face of these situations all our staff has
been trained
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So we will keep in mind that:
 We will isolate an hysterical individual (it
doesn’t mean leaving him/her alone).
 We will convey safety ideas.
 and offer assistance to the depressed one.
 We will be aware and remind to others that
there is a way out.
 We will avoid spontaneous behavior at all
costs.
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Drill
 It’s the action of putting into practice our reactions as we experiment
an emergency situation.
 We must be very attentive and act accordingly to the disaster, taking
into account that it’s a drill that may, in the future, contribute to our
and our coworkers’ protection.
 Any individual which takes on a specific role - but not for the first
time – will suffer less anxiety and will respond more adequately than
another individual which has never taken on any such role.
 We perform Drills in the Telescopes on a regular basis and our best
record is 1 minute for total evacuation of Gemini, 1 minute and 26
seconds for Víctor Blanco Telescope and 0,45 minute for Soar
Telescope.
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Do we know…
1)
...the Communication Control Center emergency
phone number?
–
Security guards/ Operations Department
There are notices on every phone and in every office
2) ...what to do in face of fires like?
–
–
–
A. Fire in compressed gas cylinder
B. LPG leak
C. Burning electrical board
3) ...what to do if the fire is serious?
4) At every Telescope there are notices about how to act in
emergencies. All employees have been trained.
5) On every phone there is a notice with Emergency
Phones.
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Three Main Objectives for
Emergency Plans
Protect Lives
Protect Facilities
Restore Operations
These plans are always written, very precise and specific
about every step and about people which should be and
are trained to activate and operate the emergency plan.
Moreover, they have been incorporated in the Intranet.
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For every disaster, there must be a specific plan.
The most serious disasters that could affect our
organization are:
Fires
Earthquakes
In the Observatory, we’ve got Emergency Plans for:
Accidents – Earthquakes – Fires - Evacuation
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Responsibilities Assigned in
Emergencies
Rate the emergency.
Announce the emergency. (Loudspeakers,
Radios, VHF, Phones)
Order that Operations come to a halt.
Coordinate emergency actions.
Ask for support according to Mutual Aid
Program.
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Safety Responsibilities
Evacuation control. Employees first.
Assistance in First Aid and rescue.
Fight Emergency.
Control dangerous areas.
Check staff in the Summit.
Access Control.
Link with support from Mutual C.CH.C.,
AOSS.
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Training
 “Training” is a fundamental part of any plan; selected staff
must have knowledge and practice as realistic as possible
on every disaster included in the Organization emergency
plans.
 At Aura Inc staff is trained every year (use of fire
extinguishers, alarms, first aid, Fire Hose operation, etc. )
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Requirements for our Emergency
Teams
Nomination
Emotional Convincing
Authority Delegation
“Believe the Leader”
LEADE RSHIP




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Discipline.
Predominance of cerebral individuals.
Physical Abilities and sports mentality.
Homogeneity between selected people. From all
work areas: CTIO, Soar and Gemini..
 Ability for initiative and influence.
 Ability for suffering.
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Preventive Actions
The Key for Safety
 Regular Tasks Inspection
 Good handling of Dangerous Waste
 Yearly Maintenance of Fire Extinguishers
 Regular Maintenance of Fire Hoses
 Maintenance of Fire Detection Systems
 Maintenance of Radio Equipment and Link with
Carabineros, 24 hour link with Cenco.
 Coordination with Fire Department / Hospitals
and Mutual de Seguridad
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Team Work:
The Key for Safety
BRIGADA DE
EMERGENCIA
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 More coordination.
 More time for action
planning.
 The leader works knowing
very clearly its functions.
 Enables each member to
learn from past situations.
 Mutual assistance.
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Procedure in case of earthquake
1. If the earthquake isn’t strong, be quiet, it will end soon.
2. If the earthquake is strong, switch off electric
equipments.
3. Remain calm and convey tranquility.
4. Get under a desk or in the door lintel or near a main wall.
5. Get keener to avoid risks and remember the following
instructions:
– If you are inside a building, stay inside; if you are outside, stay
outside.
– Remember that, in case of an evacuation, you will hear the
alarm signal. Follow evacuation procedures and head for next
safety area.
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Evacuation Procedure
1. When you receive the evacuation order personally from the
head of Emergency, by radio, phone or loudspeaker.
2. When you can’t perceive any of previous orders and an
emergency happens:
– Stop doing the task you were performing, switch off all
equipment.
– Stay clam, remember that evacuating is not rushing in terror.
– Go to next safety area. If you don’t know them check the plans
posted in every building or Telescope.
– If any evacuation exit is obstructed, look for an alternative. Each
building or Telescope has got at least 2 Evacuation exits.
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Evacuation:
Action of evacuating a
workplace in an orderly
and planned manner.
This concept includes the protection of
property and documents which are vitally
important for the organization.
Fast and appropriate evacuation is a way
to avoid loss.
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Classes of evacuation:
Fires.
Earthquakes.
Chemical spilling.
Weather emergencies (specific
procedure).
Limited explosion risk.
Threat of bomb or explosive device.
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You should evacuate:
When you hear the evacuation alarm.
When ordered by Site Manager,
loudspeakers or radio.
When ordered directly to evacuate.
When you can’t perceive any of these
three signals and an emergency happens.
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Emergency exits
Emergency exits:
 A continuous unobstructed
route to get out of a building
or structure to a public way
or a safe place. (Based in
OSHA Subpart E, 1910.35)
 It’s an obligation for each
individual to know his/her
nearest Emergency Exit.
 Must stay uncovered, visible
and updated.
 They are in all work areas.
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Signs
Signs are properly posted in all our buildings and
Telescopes
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Condition of our Evacuation Exits





Clear and accessible.
Demarcated.
Well lit, even with emergency lights if necessary.
Provided with panic bars.
Built with solid, non flammable material
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Where to evacuate
Safety areas:
 A place far from the affected building where people
are protected and where the wind won’t blow the
smoke.
Safety areas
 Always on the Northern side of the buildings
 Minimum 20 meter apart.
 Far from falling objects or high voltage equipment.
 Demarcated.
Evacuee’s responsibility:
 Call staff register.
 Wait calmly for instructions in safety area.
 Be ready to offer support as requested.
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Leaders of Emergency Plans at
Aura Inc.
 Project Directors
 Site Managers
 Supervisors
 Safety and Health Joint Committees
in La Serena, Tololo, Pachón
 Workers
 EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED WITH SAFETY
– Commitment for Life - Aura Inc Policy
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Last message
 In our Observatories, all of us are important, so
we must care for each other and act properly in
an emergency.
 The Emergency and Evacuation Plan will be
successful if everybody collaborates and acts
properly.
 Safety is everybody’s responsibility.
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