Private Emergency Organization

Profit is the main objective of any industry. To achieve this objective, an efficient and alert management and continuity of production are essential. Any interruption in production, for any reason, will adversely affect profits. If the interruption is the result of a fire or explosion, it may be long and may cripple the industry. Very often, a plea is taken that the property is insured and loss due to fire, if any, will be indemnified by the insurance company. It must be appreciated that insurance is only a device to spread the effect of the destruction brought by fire or explosion on as many people as possible. It cannot make good the national loss. Besides, insurance is no guarantee of continuity of production and elimination or minimization of consequential losses. What is indicated, therefore, is that the management must gather complete information on the fire and explosion hazard, evaluate the loss potential and implement suitable measures to control the hazard, with a view to eliminating or minimizing the incidence of fire and explosion. This involves the setting up of a private emergency organization.

Emergency Planning

Such an organization must, as far as possible, be considered from the planning stage itself, and implemented progressively from the time of selection of site until production has started, and then continued thereafter. Success of any emergency organization depends to a large extent on the overall participation of all workers and various echelons of the management. This fact must be borne in mind while planning the emergency organization. The various aspects of emergency planning are mentioned below. For more details, a reference may be made to the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Protection Handbook or any other standard work on the subject (Cote 1991).

Stage 1

Initiate the emergency plan by doing the following:

1.     Identify and evaluate fire and explosion hazards associated with the transportation, handling and storage of each raw material, intermediate and finished products and each industrial process, as well as work out detailed preventive measures to counteract the hazards with a view to eliminating or minimizing them.

2.     Work out the requirements of fire protection installations and equipment, and determine the stages at which each is to be provided.

3.     Prepare specifications for the fire protection installation and equipment.

Stage 2

Determine the following:

1.     availability of adequate water supply for fire protection in addition to the requirements for processing and domestic use

2.     susceptibility of site and natural hazards, such as floods, earthquakes, heavy rains, etc.

3.     environments, i.e., the nature and extent of surrounding property and the exposure hazard involved in the event of a fire or explosion

4.     existence of private (works) or public fire brigade(s), the distance at which such fire brigade(s) is (are) located and the suitability of the appliances available with them for the risk to be protected and whether they can be called upon to assist in an emergency

5.     response from the assisting fire brigade(s) with particular reference to impediments, such as railway crossings, ferries, inadequate strength and (or) width of bridges in relation to the fire appliances, difficult traffic, etc.

6.     socio-political environment , i.e., incidence of crime, and political activities leading to law-and-order problems.

Stage 3

Prepare the layout and building plans, and the specifications of construction material. Carry out the following tasks:

1.     Limit the floor area of each shop, workplace, etc. by providing fire walls, fire doors, etc.

2.     Specify the use of fire-resistant materials for construction of building or structure.

3.     Ensure that steel columns and other structural members are not exposed.

4.     Ensure adequate separation between building, structures and plant.

5.     Plan installation of fire hydrants, sprinklers, etc. where necessary.

6.     Ensure the provision of adequate access roads in the layout plan to enable fire appliances to reach all parts of the premises and all sources of water for fire-fighting.

Stage 4

During construction, do the following:

1.     Acquaint the contractor and his or her employees with the fire risk management policies, and enforce compliance.

2.     Thoroughly test all fire protection installations and equipment before acceptance.

Stage 5

If the size of the industry, its hazards or its out-of-the-way location is such that a full-time fire brigade must be available on the premises, then organize, equip and train the required full-time personnel. Also appoint a full-time fire officer.

Stage 6

To ensure full participation of all employees, do the following:

1.     Train all personnel in the observance of precautionary measures in their day-to-day work and the action required of them upon an outbreak of fire or explosion. The training must include operation of fire-fighting equipment.

2.     Ensure strict observance of fire precautions by all concerned personnel through periodic reviews.

3.     Ensure regular inspection and maintenance of all fire protection systems and equipment. All defects must be rectified promptly.

Managing the emergency

To avoid confusion at the time of an actual emergency, it is essential that everyone in the organization knows the precise part that he (she) and others are expected to play during the emergency. A well-thought-out emergency plan must be prepared and promulgated for this purpose, and all concerned personnel must be made fully familiar with it. The plan must clearly and unambiguously lay down the responsibilities of all concerned and also specify a chain of command. As a minimum, the emergency plan should include the following:

1.     name of the industry

2.     address of the premises, with telephone number and a site plan

3.     purpose and objective of the emergency plan and effective date of its coming in force

4.     area covered, including a site plan

5.     emergency organization, indicating chain of command from the work manager on downwards

6.     fire protection systems, mobile appliances and portable equipment, with details

7.     details of assistance availability

8.     fire alarm and communication facilities

9.     action to be taken in an emergency. Include separately and unambiguously the action to be taken by:

· the person discovering the fire

· the private fire brigade on the premises

· head of the section involved in the emergency

· heads of other sections not actually involved in the emergency

· the security organization

· the fire officer, if any

· the works manager

· others

10.     chain of command at the scene of the incident. Consider all possible situations, and indicate clearly who is to assume command in each case, including the circumstances under which another organization is to be called in to assist.

11. action after a fire. Indicate responsibility for:

· recommissioning or replenishing of all fire protection systems, equipment and water sources

· investigating the cause of fire or explosion

· preparation and submission of reports

· initiating remedial measures to prevent re-occurrence of similar emergency.

When a mutual assistance plan is in operation, copies of emergency plan must be supplied to all participating units in return for similar plans of their respective premises.