Page 52 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2017

EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING
Three Groups to Consider in Emergency Communication Plans
Knowing the types of emergencies to expect and what response is expected from each person makes it easier for employees to follow the instructions given by either on-site or external responders.
BY KAREN D. HAMEL
48 Occupational Health & Safety | MAY 2017
www.ohsonline.com
Advances in technology have brought about many forms of communication that previ- ous generations never even dreamed could be possible. Yet, even with all of these new ways to stay connected, communication continues to be a weak point in many emergency response efforts. In fact, some forms of communication can even cause more harm than good.
First responders, whose job it is to be prepared for any emergency, commonly point to communication as an area for improvement. Facilities typically never see the volume of incidents that professional first respond- ers do; but they can learn from their experiences.
Emergencies in facilities can range from one person being injured to a major disaster that affects multiple counties. No matter what the nature of the emergency, being able to clearly and accurately com- municate everything from the need for first aid to working with county officials to make an official evac- uation declaration becomes essential.
Emergency response training and drills often focus on learning and practicing tactical and opera-
tional procedures, such as evacuations or cleaning up spills. Recognizing the different audiences who will want and need information during an emergency and practicing how to communicate with each of those audiences is just as important because their needs are also immediate.
Communication with Employees
Employees need to know what actions they will be expected to take in the event of an emergency. Out- lining these actions in written plans is not enough. Training helps employees to understand what types of incidents could occur, as well as the procedures that they should follow when something out of the ordi- nary happens.
After everyone understands their role—which may be as simple as evacuating the building, reporting to an evacuation coordinator, and not speaking to the me- dia—facilities need to take the time to have drills. These drills allow everyone to practice their specific responsi- bilities so that when an incident does happen, they are more likely to recall exactly what needs to be done.
Knowing not only the types of emergencies to expect, but also what response is expected from each person, helps to calm fears and better manage an in- cident. It will also make it easier for employees to fol- low the instructions given by either on-site or external responders.
Employee communications can take many forms. Alarms may be used as an initial signaling device. Public address systems can be utilized for more de- tailed information. Some facilities are even using text messages and social media channels to communicate with employees.
Communication Among Responders
Responding to emergencies is stressful, even for pro- fessional responders. One constant that they call all rely on, however, is that when they enter a danger- ous situation, they are not alone. Utilizing the buddy system during response efforts helps to ensure that anyone in harm’s way has a means of communicating, whether it is just verbally to their buddy or by an elec- tronic medium such as a headset or walkie-talkie that allows them to talk to a section chief or anyone else whose help they may need.
Facilities may not have situations that require their internal responders to wear Level A suits or self-
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