Chapter 11 –Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
CHAPTER 11
Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
After reading this chapter, you will be able to do the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Define an emergency.
List the key elements in emergency preparedness.
Describe the concept of an emergency plan.
Understand the necessity of having emergency and evacuation plans
Describe the principles of fire prevention and suppression.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Chapter 11 outlines two aspects of emergency planning: emergency preparedness and an
organization’s response to an emergency. The chapter concludes by describing fire plans,
evacuation plans, and critical incident debriefing.
LECTURE OUTLINE
Comments
Activity
A. Introduction:
Emergency
Preparedness
Learning Activity: Use PPT slides to describe (define terms) and give
examples of recent organization emergencies and their emergency
planning (emergency preparedness and response to emergency). In
addition to the opening vignette, Wind Storm In British Columbia, ask
students to form small groups to discuss and answer Using the Internet
Question 1 (What emergencies have occurred in your local area in the
last five years? How effective was the emergency response?) and
Discussion Question 2 (What type of emergencies should
organizations in your area be prepared for?). Refer to Suggestions for
End of Chapter – Using the Internet Question 1 and Discussion
Question 2. Have the student groups share some recent examples of
emergencies (and potential emergencies) and the level of preparedness
and response to the emergency. Emphasize the importance of
mitigating disasters through effective emergency planning. Access the
website of your local EMO site and the debriefing reports on past
emergency responses and other information on emergency related
topics.
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Chapter 11– Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
You can access various video clips on local and national emergencies
at www.youtube.com
such as the Kelowna Fire Storm 2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVp80WCU-mYUse. These
pictures set the tone for students awareness and discussion around the
importance of emergency preparedness and the challenges of
responding to emergencies. Ask students “Although the benefits of a
proactive response to emergencies are well documented, why don’t
many organizations implement a systematic preparation for
emergencies?” Management commitment to emergency preparedness
seems to be a critical determinant. Refer too the video clips to describe
the importance of using the five-stage crisis management and
strategies: signal detection, preparation, damage containment, recovery,
and learning.
Short videos/DVDs such as, The Workers’ Compensation Board of BC
“Expect the Unexpected’ are available through the government
departments in the different jurisdictions.
www.worksafebc.com/publications
B. Precontact:
Assessing Hazards and
Planning Potential
Responses
Learning Activity: Use PPT slides to describe and give examples of the
elements necessary in the management of emergencies: an emergency
plan, an emergency manager, a fire plan, an evacuation plan, and a
medical attention plan and the basics of an emergency plan:
hazard evaluation, emergency response plan, training, an
evacuation plan, notification of authorities, supplies and drills.
Ask students to form small groups to discuss and answer Exercise
Question 1. (Determine if your workplace or school has an emergency
response plan. Compare this plan with the one outlined in this
chapter.) Refer to Suggestions for End of Chapter – Exercise
Question 1. Have the student groups share examples of the emergency
plans they discussed.
You will want to have a guest speaker talk about a recent emergency,
emergency preparedness and the integration and responsibilities of
human resource management (or refer to a recent emergency). The
Summer 2004 issue of the BC Human Resource Management
Association People Talk Magazine on Emergency Preparedness
(volume 7, no. 2) has several articles on the emergency planning of the
devastating Kelowna and Kamloops fires and the integrated strategic
human resources management approach that was implemented.
http://www.bchrma.org/resource_centre/people_talk_magazine/2004/su
mmer.htm
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Chapter 11 –Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
C. Contact: Fire Plan
Learning Activity: Use PPT slides to describe (using the illustrations
Figure 11.1–Fire Triangle and Figure 11.2–Fire Tetrahedron) the fire
process and requirements for extinguishment. Engage students in a
discussion about “what should be considered when developing a fireprevention program?” 1. structural design ( building codes), 2. barriers,
3. detection and suppression (smoke alarm, fir extinguisher) and 4.
storage (combustibles stored isolated area). Ask students to form small
groups to discuss and answer Exercise Question 2 (Prepare a fire
prevention and suppression plan for your own home or apartment.)
Refer to Suggestions for End of Chapter – Exercise Question 2. Have
the student groups share examples of the fire prevention and
suppression plans they discussed.
D. Postcontact:
Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing
Ask students to form small groups to discuss the video and answer
Short Answer Question 2 (What is a critical incident? Describe what a
HRM should do if a critical incident occurred in their workplace.
Describe a critical incident stress debriefing.) Refer to Suggestions for
Short Answer Question 2.
Short videos/DVDs such as, The Workers’ Compensation Board of BC
“Aftermath-An Initial Response to Critical Incidents”are available
through the government departments in the different jurisdictions,
www.worksafebc.com/publications
E. Preparation and
Response to a Potential
Influenza Pandemic.
Additional Learning Activity: In summary of this chapter you may want
to challenge students to expand and improve on the quality of their
thinking, learning and problem solving about emergency preparedness
and response by discussing Critical Thinking Question 2 (What
emergency preparedness elements would you put in place in your
organization in preparation and response to a potential influenza
pandemic [global disease outbreak] ? How will you operate your
business if 30 percent of more of your employees are not able to work
and essential services are disrupted with minimal outside help from
government and medical agencies. Students to form small groups to
research, discuss and present their thoughts to the class. Refer to
Suggestions for End of Chapter – Critical Thinking Question 2.
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Chapter 11– Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
SUGGESTIONS FOR END OF CHAPTER – DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Who should be involved in developing emergency response plans?
Answer: Emergency response is largely up to individuals. As events overwhelm an
individual’s capacity to respond, governments respond in a progressive manner beginning
with local emergency organizations (i.e. municipal emergency services, emergency
measures organization) and then provincial and federal emergency measures organizations.
BC Provincial Emergency Program (PEP)
The Federal Public Safety and Emergency
2.

Health and Safety Committees

Municipal and Regional Government

Fire Departments

Utility Corporations

Regional Districts

R.C.M.P.
http://www.pep.bc.ca/
www.psepc.gc.ca/index_e.asp
What type of emergencies should organizations in your area be prepared for?
Answer: Naturally occurring emergencies include: floods (lakes and mountain streams),
earth-quakes, SARs, and wind bursts/heavy rains. Emergencies caused by humans include:
computer crashes or viruses, chemical spills, plane crashes, forest fires, explosions, and
violence.
3.
Decide what type of fire extinguisher would be most effective in the following fire
situations:
a) a hair dryer engulfed in smoke
b) grease burning in a frying pan
c) rags smoking in the garage
d) a log that has rolled from the fireplace onto the living room floor
e) a coffee machine whose wires are shooting flames
Answer:
a) a hair dryer engulfed in smoke (CO2, halon)
b) grease burning in a frying pan (CO2, dry chemical)
c) rags smoking in the garage (CO2, dry chemical)
d) a log that has rolled from the fireplace onto the living room floor (water)
e) a coffee machine whose wires are shooting flames (CO2, halon)
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Chapter 11 –Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
4.
While this chapter has focused on health and safety implication s, there are also
public relations issues in an emergency. What principles would be appropriate for an
organization to adopt in dealing with the media/public during an emergency?
Answer: A solid communication plan and the effective management of information that
ranges from the designation of responsibility and setting clear policies and procedures to a
public relations program is extremely important. The development and use of technology to
communicate quickly to the media and other external sources could be an important
consideration.
SUGGESTIONS FOR END OF CHAPTER – USING THE INTERNET
1.
What emergencies have occurred in your local area in the last five years? How effective
was the emergency response? (Hint: Local EMO sites often have debriefi ng reports
on past emergency responses)
Answer:
Kelowna - Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park Fire
The Summer 2004 issue of the BC Human Resource Management Association People Talk
Magazine on Emergency Preparedness (volume 7, no. 2) has several articles on the
emergency planning of the devastating Kelowna and Kamloops fires and the value of
having human resources as a strategic component in the Central Okanagan disaster plan,
http://www.bchrma.org/resource_centre/people_talk_magazine/view_back_issues.htm
BC Healthcare Workers-Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
The WCB Prevention Magazine on Occupational Health and Safety Issues-WorkSafe
www.WorkSafebc.com published an article, SARS in the Workplace–Meeting the
Challenge, February 2004 that describes the challenges of protecting BC healthcare
workers from the emerging respiratory infection called SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome). The challenge was managing information that ranged from keeping current on
the constantly changing science and updating protocols to facilitating centralized and rapid
decision making and communicating information and addressing concerns and fears with
everyone involved, quickly, effectively and efficiently.
Workplace Shooting in Kamloops
The coroner’s inquest made several recommendations highlighting the need for business
and government to plan for potential workplace violence. Full Report of Kamloops Triple
Shooting Inquest http://www.nupge.ca/news_2003/n23jn03a.htm
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/nrm_news_releases/2003MSER0013-000733.htm/
BC Public Service Violence Prevention Policies & Procedures
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Chapter 11– Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
http://www.bcpublicservice.ca/
http://www.bcpublicservice.ca/down/comm/activity_sept23_03.pdf
http://www.bcpublicservice.ca/down/pdfs/Kamloops_report.pdf
Other emergencies include: floods, plane crashes, winds and snow storms, earth quakes.
SUGGESTIONS FOR END OF CHAPTER - EXERCISES
1.
Determine if your workplace or school has an emergency response plan. Compare this
plan with the one outlined in this chapter.
Answer: The necessary elements in the management of emergencies include an emergency
plan, an emergency manager, a fire plan, an evacuation plan and a medical attention plan.
An example is OUC emergency response plan,
http://www.ouc.bc.ca/er/safety/SManIndex.html#top.
The







2.
basics of an emergency plan are:
Hazard evaluation
Emergency response plan
Training
An evacuation plan
Notification of authorities
Supplies
Drills
Prepare a fire prevention and suppression plan for your own home or apartment.
Answer: When developing a fire-prevention program the following should be considered:
structural design (building codes), barriers, detection and suppression (smoke alarm, fire
extinguisher) and storage (combustibles stored isolated area). Other areas to consider
include: hazard evaluation (possible home hazards: propane barbecue, cleaning solvents),
emergency response plan (discuss and have emergency information and phone
numbers posted), and evacuation plan)
SUGGESTIONS FOR END OF CHAPTER – CASES
Case 1:
Answer: The necessary elements in the management of emergencies include an
emergency plan, an emergency manager, a fire plan, an evacuation plan and a
medical attention plan. The basics of an emergency plan are: hazard evaluation,
emergency response plan, training, an evacuation plan, notification of
authorities, supplies and.drills.
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Chapter 11 –Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
The Summer 2004 issue of the BC Human Resource Management Association People
Talk Magazine on Emergency Preparedness (volume 7, no. 2) has several articles on
emergency preparedness.
http://www.bchrma.org/resource_centre/people_talk_magazine/view_back_issues.htm
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Pearson, Clair, and Misra Mitroff (1997) describe emergency planning as a ____ stage crisis
management process.
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 6
e. 7
2. The elements necessary in the management of emergencies include:
a. a fire plan and an evacuation plan
b. an emergency manager
c. a medical attention plan
d. all of the above
e. a and c
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Chapter 11– Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
3. An organization emergency plan requires:
a. a hazard evaluation
b. an emergency response plan
c. supplies and drills
d. all of the above
e. a and c
4. Human resource and safety professionals must manage emergency situations by evaluating
the hazards:
a. that could cause an emergency
b. with the greatest risk and loss potential
c. that have lead to other organization’s fatalities
d. all of the above
e. a and b
5. Emergency preparedness consists of the following, except:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
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preparing an emergency response plan
designating and training those responsible for the emergency plans implementation
controlling fire hazards
communicating plans to employees
developing an evacuation plan
Chapter 11 –Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
6. The fire tetrahedvor model shows the following elements:
a. fuel, oxygen and carbon dioxide
b. fuel, oxygen and heat
c. carbon dioxide, nitrogen and heat
d. heat, air and carbondioxide
e. fuel, heat and carbondioxide
7. Hazardous by-products of fires include:
a. heat and smoke
b. carbon cyanide and carbon sulphide
c. carbon sulphide and hydrogen monoxide
d. hydrogen monoxide and sulphur
e. sulphur and hydrogen monoxide
8.
When developing a fire-prevention program, the following should be considered:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
structural design
barriers and suppression
storage
all of the above
a and b only
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Chapter 11– Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
9. A good procedure for a chemical spill would include:
a. do not risk exposing yourself to the chemical
b. isolate the area around the spill
c. contact authorities for all chemical spills
d. all of the above
e. a and b
10. Emergency planning involves:
a. anticipating and planning for emergencies
b. putting the emergency plans into action
c. medical attention plan
d. getting back to work and refining plans
e. a and b
MULTIPLE CHOICE ANSWERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
c
d
d
e
c
6. b
7. a
8. d
9. e
10. e
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
1. In Canada, emergency response is largely up to individuals and each individual is
responsible for knowing what to do in an emergency.
2. Provinces have an Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) that are tasked with
managing large scale emergencies and support local organizations as required.
3. British Columbia has its’ own emergency measures organization called the Provincial
Emergency Program (PEP).
4. An emergency is a sudden, generally unexpected occurrence of a set of circumstances
demanding immediate action.
5. Emergencies can be either naturally occurring or caused by humans.
6. An early step in emergency planning involves the senior management adoption of a crisis
management mindset.
7. Organizational communication and support largely focus on activities in the last stage of
emergency planning.
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Chapter 11 –Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
8. With respect to workplace violence, organizations need to focus on systems, operations,
infrastructures and public relations.
9. Emergency planning needs to consider issues at the pre-contact, contact and post-contact
stages.
10. Future proofing is based on the notion that organizations have to anticipate, assess the
potential risk and consequences of a wide range of emergencies in order to be protected
from unexpected events.
11. Occasional unannounced drills to keep everyone current and knowledgeable are not a
standard part of most emergency plans.
12. Naturally occurring emergencies include explosions and fires.
13. The fire triangle or tetrahedron can serve to illustrate the requirements for
extinguishment.
14. Toxic materials from fires come from the burning materials (fuel) when they break down
into original chemicals under extreme heat and chain reactions.
15. Post contact efforts are focused in two areas, helping individuals deal with the stresses
associated with experiencing or witnessing an emergency system, and getting back to
“normal” operations.
TRUE/FALSE ANSWERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
a.
a
a
a
a
6. a
7. b
8. b
9. a
10. a
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
b
b
a
a
a
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1.
Describe the five-stage emergency planning process
Answer:
1. Signal detection
2. Preparation
3. Damage containment
4. Recovery
5. Learning
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Chapter 11– Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
2.
What is a critical incident? Describe what a HRM should do if a critical incident
occurred in their workplace. Describe a critical incident stress debriefing.
Answer: Violence (i.e. robberies, deaths) in the workplace can have consequences that
affect a wide range of victims from the primary victims to witnesses and individuals
continuing to work in similar workplaces. Employers must respond immediately and
effectively to tragic events because they can seriously affect the emotional well-being of
employees. A critical incident causes psychological trauma in people exposed directly
and indirectly to the incident. The affects of critical incident stress ranges from
employees having strong emotional reactions to behaviours such as not being unable to
cope with the daily demands of their job. The Workers’ Compensation Board of BC
Booklet Coping with Critical Incident Stress at Work,
(www.worksafebc.com/publications/) defines a critical incident and critical incident
stress and outlines what an employer can do if a critical incident occurs at the workplace.
The employer should ensure that there are clear policies and procedures that ensure
employees have the appropriate counselling support they require. A critical incident
intervention such as defusing and debriefing sessions will help employees reduce their
intense reactions to the incident and help them return to their job tasks and environment.
Following the interventions the employer should conduct an in-depth corporate review of
how the critical incident was handled to ensure effective future practices. This review is
in addition to the accident investigation which will determine the cause of the accident
and ensure the necessary controls. The Workers’ Compensation Board of BC in
cooperation with MacMillan-Bloedel produced a 18 minute video called: Aftermath-An
Initial Response to Critical Incidents.
3.
Describe and give examples of the elements necessary in the management of
emergencies.
Answer: An emergency plan, an emergency manager, a fire plan, an evacuation plan, and
a medical attention plan.
4.
Describe and give examples of the basics of an emergency plan.
Answer: Hazard evaluation, emergency response plan, training, an evacuation
notification of authorities, supplies and drills.
5.
What should be considered when developing a fire-prevention program?
Answer:
1. structural design (building codes)
2. barriers
3. detection and suppression (smoke alarm, fire extinguisher)
4. storage (combustibles stored in isolated area).
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plan,
Chapter 11 –Emergency Response and Emergency Preparedness
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
The critical thinking question challenges students to expand and improve on the quality of their
thinking and learning by raising questions and problems and discussing broader relationships
between the chapter content and researched information.
1. Although the benefits of a proactive response to emergencies are well documented, why don’t
many organizations implement a systematic preparation for emergencies?” Describe how you
would prepare an emergency response plan for your small business.
Answer: Management commitment to emergency preparedness seems to be a critical
determinant. Refer to the WorksafeBC publication: How To Prepare an Emergency Response
Plan for Small Business
http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/by_topic/assets/pdf/emergency_resp
onse_guide.pdf Refer to the five-stage crisis management process and strategies (signal
detection, preparation, damage containment, recovery, and learning) described in the text.
2. What emergency preparedness elements would you put in place in your organization in
preparation and response to a potential influenza pandemic ( global disease outbreak) ? How will
you operate your business if 30 percent of more of your employees are not able to work and
essential services are disrupted with minimal outside help from government and medical
agencies.
Answer: Refer to the five-stage crisis management process and strategies (signal detection,
preparation, damage containment, recovery, and learning) described in the text. Preparing for the
negative effects of a pandemic on business would include: use of high technology for
communication, include management and staff in discussions around priority staffing and
operations, design a communication plan for all employees, training, build inventory to minimize
effects, consider altenative ways to do business, talk to services providers and suppliers ( ie such
as disability services), educate employers about influenza and was to stay healthy.
BCHRMA People Talk Winter 2008 Pandemic: Are You Ready?
http://www.bchrma.org/resource_centre/people_talk_magazine/view_back_issues.htm
Government of Canada and BC information on the preparedness and response to a potential
Influenza Pandemic http://www.influenza.gc.ca/index_e.html
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pandemic/
World Health Organization www.who.int/en
BC Provincial Emergency program www.pep.bc.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
Exposure Control Plan Pandemic Influenza
http://www2.worksafebc.com/PDFs/healthcare/G6.34-2.pdf
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