4.4.7 Emergency Preparedness and Response – Environmental

Purpose

To identify potential accidental or emergency situations and the organisation’s response to these in order to prevent or mitigate the associated environmental impact.

The procedures cover the review and revision of the measures, especially following an accident or emergency incident. Regular testing of the emergency procedures to test the system and the understanding of members of the organisation that may be potentially involved.

Procedure

• The Environmental Management Committee, under the direction of the Environmental Manager shall conduct a regular review of the organisation’s activities to identify the potential for accidents or emergency situations.
• The review will be carried out every 3 months or whenever there is a change to an activity or an accident or emergency situation has occurred.
• When a potential accident or emergency situation is identified, the Environmental Management Committee shall develop procedures to prevent or mitigate the environmental effects.
• All persons and organisations, that may be effected by the identified situation, shall be informed without delay and in the appropriate manner, (see 4.4.3).
• The Environmental Management Committee shall develop appropriate tests to validate the emergency procedures and to train personnel. A regular program for testing shall be established to ensure that the procedures and training levels are satisfactory.
• The Environmental Manager is responsible for the collection of test data and validating the results. All test reports shall be reviewed by the Environmental Management Committee and any changes to procedures identified and acted upon.
• When an accident or emergency situation has occurred, all activity associated with the incident must cease immediately. All evidence shall be collected or preserved for the purposes of the investigation. Written statements shall be collected from all persons who witnessed the incident or were in any way involved with the activity involved and who may be able to assist the investigation.
• When the incident results in serious injury, death or a major impact on the environment, all relevant authorities must be notified immediately. 
• The conduct of the investigation must be handed over to the relevant authority if this is requested.
• If an external authority assumes control of the incident and subsequent investigation, the Environmental Manager shall maintain close contact with the authority and inform top management of every development.
• When an accident or emergency situation occurs, any contact with the media must be made through the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is the only person authorised to release information relating to the incident.
• The Environmental Manager shall ensure that any actions or changes of procedure are fully documented and distributed to all relevant personnel, customers, sub-contractors, members of the public etc.  All documentation is controlled in accordance with the procedures contained in 4.4.5 Document Control.

What you will need before you begin

Safety hazards awareness

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Steps

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Tips

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Traps

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