This document has been developed to assist our company personnel effectively prepare an Emergency Response Plan and manage a transport vehicle incident or emergency. This document covers our company when engaged to transport general freight across Australia. An Emergency Response Plan is only effective if everyone involved knows what they are expected to do in an emergency and able to do it properly, which requires regular training, mock emergency simulations and Emergency Response Plan updates.
Objective: Every Emergency Response Plan should:
- Facilitate a rapid and effective emergency response and recovery;
- Minimise any adverse effect on people, brand, damage to property or harm to the environment in a transport emergency;
- Provide assistance to emergency and security services;
- Communicate vital information to all relevant persons involved in the transport emergency (both internal personnel and external agencies) with minimal delay.
Scope:
This general Emergency Response Plan document covers incidents where a specialised Transport Emergency Response Plan (TERP) has not been developed. These incidents include any on-road incidents including:
- Any vehicle accident where any person (including the driver) has sustained injuries
- Single-vehicle incidents where ANY damage/spilling of load has occurred.
- Multi-vehicle incidents where ANY damage/spilling of load has occurred.
- Minor or major vehicle breakdowns where assistance is required.
- The salvage and recovery of an incident and the assets involved.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN ACTIVATION
Roles and Responsibilities – During Incident Response
Driver:
- Where safe/applicable, stop any further damage/spillage
- Clear and secure incident scene to protect self and public
- Where dangerous goods are involved, please refer to Dangerous Goods TERP
- Provide as much information as possible to stakeholders including Emergency Response, Call Centre and Management
Incident Response Coordinator:
- Where required, notify relevant workplace health and safety resources and environmental and regulatory authorities.
- Situation appraisal and determine severity categorisation
- Ensure relevant response is provided based on situation appraisal
- Attend the incident
- Coordinate with Emergency Response Service Provider to recover product and/ or vehicle, clean-up site to satisfaction of EPA or local council etc.
- Incident Controller once Emergency Services hands over site
- Liaise with Emergency Services
- Gather any other relevant information for investigation
- Liaise with relevant business stakeholders (refer to activation plan)
- Document all relevant information pertinent to final Incident Report
Emergency Response Service Provider
- Tend to driver’s welfare
- Provide photographic evidence of incident
- Engage all necessary external Suppliers
- Liaise with Equipment Manager for transhipping of load when required.
- Document all relevant information pertinent to final Incident Report
- Provide support to Incident Response Coordinator regarding external suppliers and any information requirements.
- Provide network of external suppliers based on incident type and severity
Senior Management/ Business Representative
- Manage all response to media (if applicable)
- Review accident / incident reports Handle any escalation from incident as required
- Attend any serious incidents within reasonable travel time, or if requested by Authorities, Senior Management or Response Coordinator
- If any employee sustains any injuries or hospitalization has occurred ensure that immediate contact is made with relevant family member and organize all assistance required
- Assist Incident Response Co-ordinator with information if requested, along with details in relation to transporting of cargo and equipment.
- If required, liaise with Emergency Services and Authorities at scene
- Notify all relevant Management in regards to status of incident
- Notify customers
- On receipt of all relevant reports and information ensure that all internal reports are formulated and distributed to relevant personnel.