During my long career in safety I have seen both the good and the bad regarding new technologies and methods for training and protecting workers. I’ve seen workers injured by the hundreds and I’ve seen horrifying events where no one was harmed. In today’s world, the goal of a prudent safety professional, a security guard, fireman or policeman is to save lives and preserve health.
Bad times make your hair turn gray — or fall out. It’s those times of crisis when lives are in the balance that build character. It’s the reaction or the response during a crisis that reveals who we truly are and what we stand for. A crisis strips away our façade. At that time a declaration is made: Step up and do your thing or get out of the way.
I will never forget a traumatic event years ago. An electrician’s helper made a fatal mistake. He did not check out the electrical circuit he had worked on the day before to assure it was de-energized. His last earthly act was cutting into a live 480-volt line.
That tragedy unleashed a chain of events that revealed the character of many who were involved in one way or another. For days the details of the incident were reviewed by OSHA experts, company managers, safety consultants and engineers. The fact OSHA ruled the event as employee misconduct was no consolation. In the end, everyone on the project felt remorse and opined at what they would have, could have and should have done regarding prevention. Monday morning quarterbacks usually have imminent knowledge and vast wisdom.
Knowing what to do
A few years later an event occurred at a Houston-based plant that affected scores of contractor employees during a shutdown. A process unit had an internal upset that caused the piping system to send large quantities of chemicals to the flare for burning. On this occasion, the flare did not ignite as planned and instead “belched” the chemicals skyward, literally raining down on the plant and those working nearby.
The exposure presented no immediate life-threatening danger, but it could have caused chronic problems to those exposed had they not immediately been treated by medical specialists. So, on a bright sunny day, more than 100 workers were sent to five local hospitals for observation and evaluation. Case managers, medics and safety staff workers showed their expertise by turning training into action. As a result of this event, none were seriously injured or sustained a recordable illness. Knowing what to do and how to perform in an emergency paid off for the contractors and first responders.
Is your crisis plan in place?
Companies, schools, communities, colleges, apartments and high-rise buildings all need emergency action plans. Fire and police departments should not be the only ones who know how to respond. Families, teachers and business people need to know how to handle a crisis when it hits their locations.
When that day of crisis comes, be prepared at home or at work:
• Have two commanders in place: one primary and a sub.
• Have a written action plan listing sequentially who to notify, who calls which services, and where and how to send any injured for medical attention. Never send an injured or ill person; escort them and have someone stay with them.
• Have a process for family notification. Prepare to deal with affected family members, communicating with the public, emergency agencies and the press.
• Train someone to work with investigative agencies such as the police, fire department or OSHA, and prepare a spokesman who remains calm under duress.
• Remember when emergency agencies arrive, they take command. You, your staff or family become onlookers and cannot interfere.
• Prepare for long-term disabilities, illnesses, lawsuits, funerals and, regarding employment, for a depressed and depleted workforce.
In the safety business, we’ve learned to deal with crises and be prepared. There are two kinds of safety professionals: those who have dealt with emergencies and can now talk about it and, sadly, those who will deal with it in the future.
For more information, contact HASC Customer Relations at (281) 476-9900, Ext. 310 or visit www.hasc.com.
