Emergencies and Evacuations
If a fire, extreme weather, or any other type of emergency happens at work, follow the procedures set out in your worksite’s emergency plan.
An emergency plan is written to do the following:
- Describe how to deal with emergencies that could occur at your worksite.
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of emergency responders and workers.
- Describe the warning and alert systems that are in place, e.g., air horns, bells, sirens, announcements, etc.
- Set out where the muster point is for your worksite. Your employer must ensure that you are adequately instructed in the fire prevention and emergency evacuation procedures that apply on your worksite.
Emergency Procedures
In case of a medical emergency, you must know where emergency phone numbers are posted or, when required, how to contact the on-site emergency responder(s).
If you discover a fire, leave the area, activate the nearest fire alarm, and meet at the muster point.
In case of a chemical spill, how you respond will depend on how hazardous the chemical is. Your employer must ensure you are educated and trained in how to handle the chemicals you work with. The safety data sheets for those chemicals describe what to do in case of a spill.Large spills of hazardous chemicals can prompt the use of the evacuation plan.
Evacuation Procedures
In case of an emergency that requires workers to leave the area, follow your worksite’s evacuation procedures.
There will be some type of audio warning such as air-horn blasts.
During an evacuation:
- Stay calm.
- If possible, lower the load to the ground and shut down the crane. If operating other machinery, shut it down.
- Leave through the nearest safe exit and meet at the muster point where a head count will be done. Tower crane operators may need to stay in the cab to assist with the use of a dedicated emergency platform. If you do not report to the muster point for the head count, it will be assumed that you are still on the worksite.
References
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation Part 4, Sections 4.13–4.18 Emergency Preparedness and Response
