Emergency Procedures

Employers need to have "appropriate procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to persons at work....", ensuring they are written down so an employee, who must also have received appropriate training, will know what to do if this situation arises. (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 8)

The employer also needs to clearly identify and arrange any necessary contacts with external services, such as the emergency services or first aid personnel. (Regulation 9 of the MHSWR 1999).

Examples might include:
• An outbreak of a fire.
• A worker injured by a mower or other machinery.
• An injury whilst working alone.
• A spillage of a pesticide.
• A spillage of a fuel.

To maintain the safety of employees and others at a place of work (e.g. visitors) it is important for them to know when work should stop and how to move to a designated safe place.

Example basic outline emergency procedures

Fire procedure
• Upon noticing a fire, sound the fire alarm.
• Attempt to put out the fire, but only if it is safe to do so.
• Close windows and doors and evacuate the workplace.
• Report to the designated assembly point, which will be a place of safety.
• Do not re-enter the workplace until you are told it is safe to do so by an appropriate person.

Procedure for injury whilst working alone
• Wherever possible, do not work out of sight of others.
• If there is a need to be a lone worker then make sure someone else knows where you should be working and the times you should be there. Let them know when you are due back and provide a schedule of your activities.
• Always carry a mobile phone (making sure it is fully charged and is able to make outgoing calls); make sure other people have this number; Also, make sure the emergency contact numbers are stored on the phone so that you do not have to remember them or tap them in if you are injured.
• Consider having your mobile phone GPS tracked.
• Carry a first aid kit.
• Carry a whistle on a lanyard so you can hang it around your neck, if appropriate to do so.
• Carry an ID card, with your contact details on, who to contact in case of an emergency, as well as any medical requirements, e.g. allergic to penicillin.
• If you are injured try and make your way to a safe location, or at least make your present situation as safe and secure as possible.
• Contact the named contact and ask for help, providing as much information as possible.
• If you are unable to use a mobile phone, blow on your whistle to attract attention.
• Wait until help arrives; do not move away from your location.
• If you miss your return time, then your employer will expect you to contact them. If you do not contact them within a pre-planned time then they will attempt to search for you, or call out the emergency services, or similar. It is essential that you contact your employer if you are running late, otherwise an unnecessary search and rescue action may be started.

Sources and further information:
1. Emergency procedures, HSE,https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/managing/emergency.htm
2. General fire safety, HSE, https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/generalfire.htm
3. Protecting lone workers. How to manage the risks of working alone, HSE, https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg73.pdf, (Accessed 5th March 2022)