Emergency Response Preparedness

Emergency ResponseWhat To Do While Waiting For Responders

Triumvirate Environmental

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Sasha Laferte

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3. Webinar recording and slides will be emailed to

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Meet Your Presenter

Kevin CoulonPreventative Maintenance &

Emergency Response Manager

kcoulon@triumvirate.com

• BS in Georgraphy

• Started with Triumvirate in 2005

• Previously – Environmental Specialist,

Operations Specialist, and Branch

Manager

On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being

the most prepared, how

prepared would you say your

organization is for an ER

situation?

AgendaScenarios

Critical Information

Fascinating ER Calls

Ways to Prepare

Worse Case Vs Best Case

Questions

Scenarios

Chemical

Overflow

Confined Space

Mercury

Chemical

Unstable chemicals found during moves or clean outs

Gas cylinder

Chemical spill in the lab setting

Odor Problem (Unknown)

Spills during chemical delivery

Overflow Scenarios

Water/Sewer line breakage

Drums/containers overflowing or

leaking

Treatment tanks overflowing

Confined Space Response

Hydraulic oil released into

elevator shaft (CSE)

Hydraulic oil released into Catch

Basin

Treatment tanks

Mercury

Mercury Barometer

Mercury Thermometer

Amalgam Filters

Critical Information

The Where

The What

The Who

The When

The How

Behavioral Incidents

Note: The majority of the

incidents we respond to are

at night, during the weekend,

early Monday morning,

holidays, or late in the day on

Friday.

Critical Information to Provide to Responding Contractor

• Recognize this information exchange will shape the emergency contractors decisions (people/equipment)

• This will also help your contractor with providing recommendations as next step while waiting for responder

• Your name and phone number of the person who will be onsite

• The chemical(s) involved, and whether MSDS’s are available.

• The site address, building number/name, room number, or area that has the problem.

Critical Information to Provide to Responding Contractor (Cont.)

• Has there been a release to the environment or is it contained within the building?

• If released to environment, define the media affected (soil, groundwater, surface water, concrete, asphalt, etc.)

• If released down a drain, define where the drain goes (treatment system, direct to sewer, etc.)

• The quantity released

• Helpful tip – There are 7.48 gallons per cubic foot

• Cause of release

• What other agencies have

been contacted?

• What actions have you

taken prior to making the

call?

• Your expectations for

clean-up.

Critical Information to Provide to Responding Contractor (Cont.)

Fascinating ER Statements• If I call in a spill smaller than it really is, I will be charged less?

• Information? I don’t have time right now to get you more information. Just get

here now!

• I will not be there but knock on the door and someone there will let you in

• Can you give me a quote before dispatching the response crew?

• Please call me back at XXX-XXX-XXXX. “The number you have

dialed is disconnected”

• “This is Joe. I have a spill call me.”

• I don’t know what it is or how much of it spilled, but I need it cleaned up in 1

hour.

• I realize it is midnight, but can you have a crew here in five minutes?

Fascinating ER Statements (Cont.)

• I need you to clean out the

elevator shaft. Secured? Locked

Out? You are the response

company, you’re supposed to

know that information

• There is a funny smell coming

from this room. I only need one

person to come help me figure it

out

• I’ll take care of the spill. What do

you mean training? Emergencies

don’t require training.

• Understand you potential scenarios

• Walk around with key staff

and/or contractor (s)

• Assess chemical storage

practices

• Update your chemical inventory

• Track energetic or highly

hazardous materials

• Assess treatment tanks

• Identify high risk areas for spills

• Update contingency plans

Ways to Prepare for Hazardous Material Incidents

• Training!

• Review observations from the survey

• Talk about worst case scenarios

• Conduct mock Drills

• Test your on call system

• Limit who can make the call for outside help

• Make sure they are knowledgeable

• Make sure the are able to make

decisions needed to clean up the spill

Ways to Prepare for Hazardous Material Incidents (Cont.)

• Make sure you know when outside contractors will be on site and what they will be

working on

• Ask for an ETA and for updates if the time changes

• How clean do you want the area (only remove the hazard, full decon, etc)

• Prepare a simplified ER binder

• Copy of your internal communication plan

• Phone numbers & pagers for key staff

• Phone numbers for outside contractors

• Site Map

• Information on your most dangerous materials

Ways to Prepare for Hazardous Material Incidents (Cont.)

Worst Case Scenario vs.

Best Case Scenario

Usually comes down to the

following:• Remaining Calm

• Ensure your staff is safe

• Accurate information is gathered

by the individual(s) involved with

the spill

• Excellent information exchange

• A well prepared staff

Client Education

• Extensive Roundtable

Program

• E-Newsletters

• Client Training

Program

• www.triumvirate.com

QUESTIONS?

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of the Q&A as well as a

free ER program

assessment

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