Emergency Response Plans

Emergency Response Plan Activation

Any staff member can activate the emergency response plan by notifying the most senior manager available of the situation.

Wardens

The person responsible for directing a response to an emergency is the manager, and if the manager is not present then the assistant manager is to direct the response.

Assembly Area

If an emergency occurs where cell phone reception is still available then management is to use that co-ordinate a response which includes checking on the safety of all staff and families living on farm, arranging assistance for those who need it, and providing direction to keep all people on farm safe. 

In an emergency where cell phone communications are typically lost such as an earthquake all staff are to meet at the assembly area which is the cowshed tanker loop. This is so everyone's safety can be accounted for and plans made in case anyone is missing.

If the tanker loop is not safe, meet at the cattle stop on the tanker track.

General Emergency Management 

Earthquake, flood, injury, chemical incident.

Staff are to contact the manager in an emergency and the manager is responsible for implementing the emergency response plan. If the manager isn't available then the staff are to implement the plan as follows.

1. Before approaching the scene - is there any further danger? Don't put any further people in harms way. 

2. Is anyone injured? Conduct First Aid and call emergency services if necessary.

3. Is everyone accounted for? It may be necessary to search for people if the cell towers are over loaded.

4. Once the above actions have been taken and risk to people has passed, note down actions that have been implemented and when they were taken.

5. Check the stock - do they have feed, water and are the fences secure?

6. Check the staff housing - does everyone have a habitable space?

7. Are roads passable?

Fires

1. Don't enter a building on fire. Prevent others from entering also.

2. Account for safety of all staff.

3. Administer first aid for burns if necessary.

4. Small fires may be extinguished by a fire extinguisher. Evacuate if the fire is not out once the extinguisher is depleted.

5. Don't use water on electrical or chemical fires.

6. Call emergency services and make a copy of the chemical inventory available for the specific building so they know the level of toxicity, accelerant or explosive hazard present.

7. Keep clear of smoke, particularly where hazardous substances are stored.

8. Make a record of which actions have been taken and when.

Overdue Worker

There is a risk that workers in difficulty such as entrapped or injured may be left out overnight which can turn a survivable accident into a potentially fatal situation.

Management or colleagues are to know where lone workers are expected to be working.

1. All staff are to note when personal or take-home vehicles are still at work at the end of the day and check in with their owners by phone/txt or in person before leaving.

2. If contact cannot be made remotely then go to where they are expected to be working and check on them before leaving work yourself.

3. Having two farm locations at Clydesdale and McEwans presents extra risk of lone workers being left in difficulty. 

4. Notify management if a worker cannot be found or is in difficulty.

Falls Rescue

When working over 1.5m height the worker must have heights training and must wear PPE including a helmet and a safety harness tethered to something that can hold a workers falling weight. However, if the worker does fall they must be rescued immediately as circulation will be compromised which can lead to death. The following procedure should be reviewed prior to working at height.

1. The worksite must have cell phone reception and a telehandler with lifting cage available.

2. A minimum of three people are needed on-farm when working at height - one is working, another is spotting at the worksite and a third must be on-farm, aware they are on-call for heights rescue, and within cell phone reception. Two rescuers will be needed as one will drive the telehandler and another will need to be in the cage to assist any unconscious worker suspended.

3. A risk assessment is to be undertaken - electrical hazards often exist at height, and some locations may not be accessible for rescue.

4. The exact method of rescue depends on the job and possible fall. This must be agreed during the risk assessment prior to the job commencing.

5. When the fall occurs the spotter must make contact with the suspended worker who has fallen to ascertain consciousness and work to recover the worker with the telehandler if conscious.

6. If the worker who has fallen and is suspended is unconscious the spotter must temporarily support the workers body weight with the telehandler if safe to do so and then call the third person to assist.

7. If a fall results in the woker being suspended in their harness administer first aid as required when they are rescued. Put them in a horizontal recovery position until a paramedic, nurse or doctor can provide assessment.

8. If a fall from height occurs that is not mitigated by wearing a safety harness then administer first aid and call 111 for an ambulance. Depending on the exact scenario you may need to administer first aid for:

   • Fractures/Breaks

   • Head injury

   • Internal injury/abdominal injury

   • Bleeding