HEALTH AND SAFETY —
Be Prepared As Kiwis, we know that natural disasters can strike at any time. We need to be ready for anything – whether it’s an earthquake, fire or an accident – and the first step to being prepared is a good emergency response plan. Being prepared will make your business more resilient, and better able to bounce back when the unexpected happens.
Get ready The first step is to make an emergency response plan. This should include: A list of your emergency equipment (such as First Aid kit, extinguishers, spill kit and when they were last tested) as well as where they are located Up-to-date fire and emergency training Emergency contact phone numbers Spill/leak/hazardous substances procedures checklists A list of people who have specific skills and responsibilities in an emergency, like Fire Wardens, and their contact details and the date they were last trained
If you use, store or make hazardous substances, you should also keep a hazardous substances manifest in a safe place. This should include a list of what the substances are, where they are stored and the maximum quantities likely to be present. Safety data sheets should be kept and preferably backed up on a removable storage device, such as a flash drive, and stored with other important information. This essential information should be kept secure in a location that is separate from your main workplace. If a natural disaster strikes, remember to keep up-todate with the latest Civil Defence information and where possible keep a record of any events that harm people, or damage property.
Emergency First Aid info Information on CPR A list of what’s in your Civil Defence kit and the location of the nearest Civil Defence assembly point A record of when your emergency plan was last tested
Once your plan is finished, all staff will need to be informed of what’s in it, who the people with special responsibilities are, and where the plan and essential emergency equipment are located. It’s a good idea to regularly remind staff of this information at Toolbox Talks or prestart meetings. Where possible, make sure everyone has emergency supplies, like a “Go bag”, which should be filled with water, food, First Aid kit and other emergency needs in case of a large-scale event. Emergency response trials should be conducted regularly, or when there has been a significant change in staff. For owners of buildings that require a Fire Evacuation Scheme, trial evacuations must occur at approved intervals. In case of a chemical/environmental emergency (like a diesel spill), you should store appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), which is available for use if required. Make sure everyone is trained in the safe control of the chemicals you have on-site and the emergency procedures associated with their use.
Make sure everyone on site knows what to do in an emergency.
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