What is emergency preparedness and response?  

The complexity of emergency preparedness and response programs varies for the type of business operations, but in an emergency all businesses need a plan to:

• Protect and account for their workers
• Protect their business assets
• Assess and implement response needs
• Maintain business continuity
• Recovery of operations to a “business as usual” status

Business operations can be impacted by:

• On-site events, like a fire or spill
• Off-site events, like a transportation accident or other emergency in proximity
• Weather events
• Global events, like a pandemic emergency

Challenges  

The need for an emergency program is obvious for large industrial complexes or construction sites, but is just as important for a small business or retail and service industry business.   Some business only need a simple emergency plan that outlines what to do in the event of a fire, medical emergency, chemical spill, worker hospitalization or fatality, serious weather event and pandemic event.   Depending on the need, a business may establish a response team that is trained and equipped to respond to medical emergencies, fires and chemical spills.   No matter the complexity, it is important that the emergency plan outline actions to be taken, important contact information and how to interface with the local emergency agencies.     Benefits   An effective emergency preparation and response plan:

• Will be easy to understand for employees
• Will be easy to communicate and keep up to date
• Will assist the business emergency organization in the proper management of the emergency
• Will help ensure the safety and accounting of workers
• Will help protect business assets
• Will help to assure business continuity
• Will assist with determining the need for any required regulatory notifications

 Best Practices  

As a minimum, an effective emergency preparation and response plan, should include guidance for:

• Evacuation assembly and accountability
• Medical emergencies
• Fire
• Hospitalization or fatality
• Pandemic emergency

  Some business may need additional guidance in their plans for:

• Chemical spills
• Transportation emergencies
• Off-site releases

  How Can OSC Help?  

Ralph V Collipi Jr. possesses important expertise, knowledge, credentials, and experience in the area of industrial hygiene.  This includes:

• BA Zoology from the University of New Hampshire
• MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Certification in the comprehensive practice of in the industrial hygiene (CIH)
• Certification as a Certified Hazardous Material Manager (CHMM)
• Certification as a Certified Environmental, Health and Safety Auditor (CPEA)
• More than 40 years of experience as an occupational health professional
• More than 10 years of Expert Witness work
• Expertise in occupational health compliance program
  • Development,
  • Implementation,
  • Management Systems and
  • Assessment
• More than 40 years experience in the area of emergency preparedness and response
• Training of thousands of workers and volunteers in emergency programs for industry
• Experience in establishing business continuity plans, including those for complex emergencies like a global pandemic.
• Experience and training as a hazardous materials response (HAZWOPER) Incident Commander, Safety Officer and HazMat Technician.
• The coordination and execution of numerous joint exercises with local emergency organizations and government emergency agencies around the nation.

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