ENV729 Emergency Preparedness and Response

Ref. Article 8.2 of ISO 14001

  1. Per ISO 14001, the organization must identify any foreseeable risk of environmental emergency. It can be done via the aspect matrix. 
  2. The organization should also draft and implement an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP). Such an EPRP enables the management of SEAs and REAs in emergent situations and helps curb environmental impacts. 
  3. Additionally, the organization should periodically test the procedures of the EPRP via emergency response drills

Preparedeness: Identification of Emergency Risks

The organization should identify the environmental aspects (EAs) in normal and abnormal situations, as well as emergencies. As discussed at the beginning of this course, the aspect matrix lists all these EAs.

The risk factors that can lead to an environmental emergency are multiple. They can be :

  • Natural phenomena (earthquake, flood, ice storm, accumulations of snow, etc.)
  • Malevolence and attacks (physical or virtual)
  • Negligence and disregard for risk
  • Sudden, prolonged, or uncontrolled stoppages of operations (due to a pandemic, etc.) 
  • Human errors, computer errors, and accidents (road, etc.)
  • The presence of chemical incompatibilities from neighboring facilities, tanks spills, etc.

In addition, environmental emergencies have diverse repercussions on:

  • The elements of the environment, as defined in ISO 14001
  • Interested parties
  • Virtual and physical systems and infrastructures.

Emergency Response

The owner of an affected site or the company responsible for an emergency (like a spill) must do everything possible to protect humans, living species, properties, and the environment in general.

The person in charge must also submit any relevant information to authorities according to the regulations in force.

Laws prescribe preventive measures and corrective actions to reduce risks in the event of accidental pollution. For example :

  • Standards for the construction and maintenance of equipment
  • Obligation to draft and periodically test an EPRP
  • Responsibility to provide notices in the event of an emergency (verbal and written) to governmental authorities concerned ;
  • Commitment to inform without delay the potentially affected public.

Examples of measures For petroleum and related equipment

  • Be used for appropriate purposes
  • Be maintained so as to not constitute a danger
  • Be waterproof
  • Bear identifications and labels according to the regulation
  • Have a double-walled containment basin
  • Be protected against shocks (bollards, low wall)
  • Be protected against vandalism (fence, cameras)
  • Etc.

When and how to address a spill: examples

Take the appropriate actions to:

Identify and secure the area
Stop the leak (barrel opening, etc.)
For fires or a spill of flammable products (gasoline, etc.), call the fire station and security

Only if safe to do so:

Restrict access with ribbons and cones
Contain the spilled products
Collect the spilled products
Communicate safety instructions

Emergency drills and evacuations: what to do… and not to do

This video (17:06) gives tips to consider during emergency drills and evacuations:

Just for fun, watch this optional video with examples NOT to follow (4:56) 🙂

To Do List

  1. Identify the REAs and SEAs in your aspect matrix that the organization manages via the EPRP.
  2. Make sure the EPRP does include the REAs and SEAs.
  3. Communicate your EPRP internally and externally (alarm company, the local fire station, etc.).
  4. Organize and document periodical emergency drills and evacuations.
  5. Maintain and continually improve your EPRP.

Ref. Article 8.2 of ISO 14001

You have now completed the DO stage of the PDCA EMS! Let’s move on to the Check stage.