Posted On: December 5, 2023

Common Workplace Emergencies: Types & Safety

Introduction

Emergencies and disasters can catch people off guard, particularly when they have a personal impact on individuals, their workforce, and their businesses. The undeniable reality is that these unforeseen events have the potential to strike at any moment and in any location. It's entirely possible that you and your employees may find yourselves compelled to evacuate your company when you least anticipate such a workplace crisis situation.

Types of Workplace Emergencies

A workplace emergency refers to an unexpected event that poses a risk to your employees, customers, or the general public, disrupts or halts your business operations, or results in physical or environmental harm. These emergencies can be of either natural or human origin and encompass the following scenarios:

What steps can you take to ensure the safety and security of yourself, your employees, and your business?

The most effective approach is to be ready to address an emergency proactively rather than reactively. During a crisis, clear and logical thinking can often be challenging, which underscores the importance of thorough preparation in advance when you have the time to plan thoroughly.

Brainstorm the worst-case scenarios: Ask yourself what you would do if the worst happened. What if a fire broke out in your boiler room? Or a hurricane hit your building head-on? Or a train carrying hazardous waste derailed while passing your loading dock? Once you have identified potential emergencies, consider how they would affect you and your workers and how you would respond.

How can workplaces prepare for natural disasters like earthquakes and floods?

Earthquakes: An earthquake is an abrupt and swift ground movement resulting from the fracture and movement of rocks beneath the Earth's surface. This movement has the potential to harm structures and bridges, interrupt utility services like gas, electricity, and telecommunication, and on occasion, instigate landslides, avalanches, flash floods, wildfires, and massive, devastating ocean waves known as tsunamis.

There are numerous actions you can take to get your workplace ready in advance for a possible earthquake:

• Select "secure locations." A secure location may involve positioning yourself beneath a robust table or desk or standing against an inner wall, keeping a distance from windows, bookcases, or tall furnishings that might pose a risk of falling on you.
• Practice drop, cover and hold-on in each safe place. Drop under a desk or sturdy table and hold onto one of the legs of the table while protecting your eyes and keeping your head down.
• Make an emergency plan for earthquakes which includes: Waiting in the same place until the shaking stops, being on the lookout for fires, using the stairs not elevators for evacuation.

Floods: Floods have the potential to become major disasters and are among the most prevalent hazards in the United States. A range of factors, including the sudden accumulation of rainfall, increasing river levels, tidal surges, ice blockages, and dam failures, can trigger floods.

Establishing an evacuation strategy ahead of a flood can minimize confusion, reduce the risk of injuries, and protect property. A comprehensive evacuation strategy should encompass:

1. Triggers for implementing the plan

2. Hierarchy of responsibility

3. Essential emergency tasks and responsible individuals

4. Detailed evacuation guidelines, including designated routes and exits

5. Protocols for tracking personnel, customers, and visitors

6. Necessary personnel equipment

7. Necessary personnel equipment

Training and Exercises

• Guarantee that all employees are familiar with the appropriate actions to take during an emergency
• Regularly rehearse evacuation procedures
• Revise plans and protocols by incorporating insights gained from practice sessions

How can workplaces prevent incidents of workplace violence?

Workplace violence encompasses a spectrum of behaviors, including physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or any form of disruptive conduct that occurs within the workplace premises. This can span from verbal threats and abuse to actual physical assaults, and in extreme cases, even result in fatal incidents. The impact of workplace violence can extend to employees, clients, customers, and visitors.

In workplaces where identifiable risk factors exist, the likelihood of assaults can be mitigated or prevented when employers implement suitable preventive measures. One of the most effective safeguards employers can provide for their employees is the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy regarding workplace violence. This policy should encompass all individuals, including employees, clients, visitors, contractors, and anyone else who may interact with the company's personnel.

What are the potential sources of workplace hazardous material incidents?

The workplace, especially in an industrial setting, can pose significant risks. Various factors can lead to accidents, spanning from excessive exertion to mishandling hazardous materials. Most hazardous materials incidents occur in industrial settings such as:

Hazardous materials include explosives, flammable or combustible substances, poisons, and radioactive materials. It is vital to exercise caution when managing such materials, as they can pose serious risks to both human health and the environment.

You can sign up for our Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response courses here.

Written by: Fahad Qureshi