Importance of Emergency Plans

 IMPORTANCE OF EMERGENCY PLANS

The recent accident that happened on May 7^th 2020 at LG POLYMERS, Visakhapatnam due to accidental release of toxic styrene vapor from the plant and spreading to nearby populated areas resulting in the death of 11 and injuring many people, highlights the importance of Emergency plans (both On-site emergency planning and Off-site emergency planning).

Emergency plans are very much essential for dealing emergencies in industries /Factories as they provide detailed plan/guidelines/procedures to be adopted in any factory for dealing with sudden emergencies whether it is an offsite or onsite emergency. Emergency plans are categorized into two based on the gravity of the situation 

·    ON-SITE EMERGENCY PLANNING:  This is an emergency which can be handled and controlled by occupier/management with the own resources on the site / within the industry itself. This type of planning ensures detailed responsibility and measures on how to prevent and control emergencies arising within the industry/factory and not does effect outside bodies like public and environment.

·       OFF-SITE EMERGENCY PLANNING:  This type of emergency requires outside resources/support from the neighbouring units/organizations and support from government authorities. This type of emergency ensures detailed responsibility and measures to prevent and control emergencies outside the premises of industry/factory. This is ensured by the concerned authority. 

Any kind of emergency occurring in any part of the industry is one that may affect several departments or processes and may cause major injuries inside and outside the plant, fatalities within and outside the plant, a serious threat to the environment, extensive damage to property/ serious disruption to processes and outside the works. It may require outside resources and help to handle it effectively. 

Emergency gets created due to any of the following factors

1.     Fire/Explosion in Reactors/ vessels/pressurized tanks which contain flammable /combustible/toxic substances

2.     Leakage of toxic chemicals in the form of vapour into the environment over a considerable time from pipelines/storage tanks /vessels

3.     Collapsing of structures/equipment etc.

4.     Natural calamities like cyclone, flood, tsunami etc., which triggers any on the above factors 

The importance of emergency plan can be understood by the fact that as per Manufacture, Import and storage of Hazardous chemicals Rules, 1989, the following points to be ensured for preparation of the on-site emergency plan and off-site emergency plan.

·    For on-site emergency, the occupier shall prepare and keep up-to-date an on-site emergency plan detailing on how major accidents will be dealt where the industrial activity is carried out, and for an off-site emergency, the occupier shall provide the concerned authority with required information relating to the industrial activity under his control as the concerned authority may require, including the nature, extent and likely adverse effects on off-site and accordingly the concerned authority prepared off-site emergency plan.

·      List of the persons along with names who are responsible and authorized to take action following the plan in case of an emergency to be provided

·    The occupier shall ensure that the emergency plan is updated with any new additional process that requires modification and that every person on the site who is affected by the plan is informed of its relevant provisions and same is told to the concerned authority. 

·     The occupier shall prepare the on-site emergency plan and concerned authority shall prepare off-site emergency in the case of a new industrial activity before that industrial activity is commenced 

·       The occupier shall ensure that a mock drill of the on-site emergency plan is conducted every six months and the detailed report of the mock drill conducted should be made immediately available to the concerned Authority 

DETAILS TO BE FURNISHED FOR ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE EMERGENCY PLANS :

The following details to be furnished in the ON-SITE EMERGENCY PLAN as per the schedule 11 of The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989

1.     Name and address of the person furnishing the information

2.     Emergency response personnel of the organization and responsibilities assigned to them

3.     The outside organization, if involved in assisting during an onsite emergency and their liaison agreement

4.     Information on the preliminary hazard analysis which should cover

·       Type of accidents

·       Events in the process that can lead to a major accident

·       Hazards in the system

·       Safety relevant components 

5.     Details about the location of dangerous substances and emergency control room.

6.     Description of hazardous chemicals

7.     The likely dangers to the plant from different variable both internal and external

8.     Details about the Fire alarm and warning systems present

9.     Details of communication facilities that are available during an emergency and those required for an off-site emergency  

10.  Details of firefighting and other facilities available and those required for an off-site emergency.

11.  Details of first aid and hospital services available and its adequacy.

The following details to be furnished in the OFF-SITE EMERGENCY PLAN as per the schedule 11 of The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989

1.     The types of accidents and chance of toxic chemical release to be taken into account

2.     Responsibilities of key personnel during an emergency in organizations and their liaison arrangement

3.     Location of dangerous substances and emergency control room should be earmarked.

4.   Dangerous substances present in the plant along with technical information that provides data about physical and chemical properties

5.     Details about the facility and all transport routes

6.     All the important contacts like First aid and hospital services, water and agricultural authorities etc.

7.     All communication links like telephone, radio and standby methods.

8.     Details of the emergency response procedure to be adopted during emergency

9.     Notification and evacuation arrangements for the public during emergency

10.  Disaster management short term and long term 

Authorities Responsible for Enforcement and overseeing the procedures about the emergency plans

·       Chief Inspector of Factories appointed under the Factories Act, 1948.

·       Chief Inspector of Dock Safety appointed under the Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, 1986.

·       Chief Inspector of Mines appointed under the Mines Act, 1952

·       Atomic Energy Regulatory Board appointed under the Atomic Energy Act, 1972.

·       Chief Controller of Explosives appointed under the Indian Explosive Act and Rules, 1983.

·       District Collector or District Emergency Authority designated by the State Government.

HSE Notes by PJ Mohan

Sr.Faculty, NIFS