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partnering with our members to
create and keep safe workplaces.
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© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609
Emergency Preparedness
Healthcare Workers
Session Objectives
You will be able to:
• Identify workplace hazards that could cause
an emergency
• Report emergencies promptly
• Carry out emergency responsibilities
• Evacuate quickly and safely
• Respond to emergency situations effectively
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What You Need to Know
• Workplace hazards that could lead to an
emergency
• How to report emergencies
• Emergency responsibilities
• Evacuation routes and procedures
• Response to fires and chemical/biohazard
emergencies
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Are You Prepared?
• How would you react to a fire alarm?
• What would you do in a natural disaster
such as a violent storm?
• Do you know your role if there were a
serious chemical or biohazard incident?
• How would you respond to an act of
violence?
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OSHA Requirements
• Evacuation and exit
•
•
•
•
routes
Alarm systems
Protective measures
Training
Emergency action and
fire prevention plans
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Types of Emergencies
You Could Face
• Fires and explosions
• Chemical and biohazard incidents
• Natural disasters
• Violence
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Fire Hazards: Electrical
• Overloaded electrical
systems
• Damaged wires and
cords
• Damaged plugs
• Defective equipment
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Fire Hazards:
Flammable Chemicals
• Don’t smoke around
flammable chemicals
• Store flammables
properly
• Dispense flammables
properly
• Read MSDSs and
labels
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Fire Hazards: Smoking
And Housekeeping
• Smoke only in
designated areas
• Make sure cigarettes
and matches are
completely
extinguished
• Keep your work area
clean and neat
• Properly dispose of fire
hazards such as
combustible trash
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Chemical Release Hazards
• Look for signs of
chemical spills
• Report leaking
containers immediately
• Don’t attempt a
cleanup unless you are
trained and equipped
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Biohazards
• Contagious diseases
• Infectious
microorganisms in
laboratories
• Foodborne illness
• Mold
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Natural Disaster Hazards
• Flooding
• Tornado
• Hurricane
• Earthquake
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Violence Hazards
• Workplace violence
• Civil disturbance
• Terrorist acts
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Hazard Identification
• Do you understand the
information that has
been presented so far?
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Be Prepared to Respond
Effectively to Emergencies
• Find out what you need to know now
• Prepare yourself to act correctly
• Participate in emergency drills
• Become familiar with emergency plans and
coordinators
• Keep emergency exits clear
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Know How to Report an
Emergency
• Location of alarm
boxes
• How to activate them
• Who to call
• What to report
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Understand Emergency
Responsibilities
• Handle only tasks you’ve been assigned
and trained for
• Understand exactly what’s expected of you
• Carry out responsibilities only if you can do
so safely
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Patient Evacuation
Responsibilities
• Understand a patient’s
condition before
moving
• Know specific patient
removal procedures
• Be able to locate
assigned safe areas
inside or outside the
facility
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Know Your Evacuation
Route(s)
• Have at least two
escape routes from
your work area
• Know where
emergency exits are
located in other parts
of the facility
• Know where to go for
roll call once safely
outside
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Be Familiar with
Evacuation Procedures
• Recognize the
evacuation signal and
listen for instructions
• Alert co-workers and
patients
• Shut down equipment
• Go directly to the
nearest safe exit
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Evacuation Procedures (cont.)
• Move quickly but calmly
• Follow directions from emergency response
personnel
• Proceed to the assembly area
• Do not leave the area until instructed
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Notification and
Evacuation
• Questions?
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Respond Safely to Fires
• Remove yourself from danger
• Trigger the alarm
• Retrieve a fire extinguisher
• Call for additional help
• Continually evaluate the situation for the
necessity to evacuate
• Don’t try to fight large, spreading fires
yourself
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Fire Response:
Extinguishing Systems
• Portable extinguisher
• Fire hose
• Fire suppression
systems
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Fire Response:
Extinguisher Types
• A—For combustibles
such as trash, wood, or
paper
• B—For flammable
liquids or gases
• C—For electrical fires
• ABC—Multipurpose
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Fire Response:
Extinguisher Use
• Pull the pin
• Aim at the base of the
fire
• Squeeze the trigger
• Sweep back and forth
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Respond Safely to
Chemical/Biohazards
• Evacuate the area
• Shut doors and windows
• Notify a supervisor or the emergency
coordinator immediately
• Remove ignition sources (if safe to do so)
• Do not return to the area until instructed
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Key Points to Remember
• Fires, chemicals/biohazards, natural
disasters, and violence can cause
workplace emergencies
• Be sure you know evacuation routes,
emergency procedures, and emergency
responsibilities
• Ask if you have questions about emergency
preparedness; don’t wait for a real
emergency
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0609