It’s no secret that agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the world and that emergencies can happen any time. Unfortunately, emergency responders may not always be familiar with ag operations, meaning that rescues and treatment of injured employees may take much longer than normal. Precious minutes could easily be lost while responders determine the best way to get a trapped or injured employee to safety and treatment. Having an emergency action plan (EAP) in place for your operation can literally mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.
Emergency preparedness for your operation involves two important steps.
Develop Your EAP
- Acquire an aerial map of your farm. Ensure that all buildings and structures appear on the map. Number each building and structure.
- Create a legend for your map. Use consistent notation to mark key locations for each building and structure, such as electrical cutoffs, gas, dangerous chemical storage, etc.
- Identify each of the numbered buildings and structures and its use.
- Lists the names and contact information of the operation owners and managers.
Involve the Local Emergency Services
Developing your EAP is only the first half of emergency preparedness, however. The next step is to invite your local emergency personnel, such as members of the fire department, to your operation to conduct a site visit. Show them your EAP. They can use that information to familiarize themselves with your operation and develop a more comprehensive rescue strategy.
Emergency preparedness may seem like a daunting task, but you owe it to your employees to ensure that arriving personnel have all the tools they need to effect a rescue quickly and efficiently.
