Having recently managed the emergency response for an aviation business, I can attest to the value of having clear and up to date procedures in a serious emergency situation. In some ways, I was well prepared having recently rewritten the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for the operator.
An ERP is an essential element of any Safety Management System (SMS), but one which it is hope will never be used. There are three lessons which I learnt which I would like to pass on to other operators, as a result of having written a plan and had the unfortunate duty to have to implement and manage it in a real emergency.
Firstly; the plan must be simple and easy to read with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and written in a way that these can be modified as the situation dictates. The plan must also be logical and at least partially sequential – in a tragic and traumatic event such as a fatal accident, order is required and one must be disciplined to keep order. The plan must include all relevant telephone numbers and email addresses which are tested and found to be accurate and current.
Having developed a plan and before it is formally incorporated into the company documentation suite, it should be tested in a simulated emergency situation. This will iron out some (but alas, not all) of the wrinkles of the plan. The test should highlight amendments required in the ERP before it is set in stone.
Finally, an ERP should be practised regularly (at least annually) using as much realism as is practicable. Familiarity with the plan will make it much easier to implement and manage. All employees must treat the practice seriously and if possible be consulted at the completion of the session to obtain their suggestions for improvement. An ERP is something which by virtue of periodic and diligent practice can also aid in developing a more healthy safety culture because it maintains awareness of the true ramifications of an accident.
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