Canadian Occupational Safety

16 www.thesafetymag.com/ca F E A T U R E EMERGENCY RESPONSE: CRUNCH TIME Emergency response planning is invaluable to businesses and organizations across Canada. COS takes a closer look at key parts, such as first aid training, that safety pros need to know about IN May this year, Labrador outfitting company Cloud 9 Salmon Lodge was fined $12,500 after one of its workers went missing and was presumed drowned after a boating accident. After an investigation, the judge ruled that the informal manner of the lodge's owner played a part in the worker's death. The investigation found that the owner had failed to provide emergency communication devices and had used verbal instructions rather than following written protocol, which should have been in place. Accidents like this one are why emergency response planning — and training — are so important and integral to ensuring the health and safety of workers. This would not be the first time a business or organization failed to consider all aspects of emergency planning. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses and organizations found themselves not having included pandemic planning and infectious disease transmission as part of their emergency planning. This left them caught short from the start of the pandemic. This lack of planning could be what led to their COVID-19 outbreaks, followed by issues with supply chains and even financial losses. Another change stemming from the pandemic? Telework. With more employees working at home than ever place can also help alleviate worker stress, as they know that a workplace is committed to ensuring their health and safety. Broadly, what constitutes an emergency can vary; it could be fires, floods, building collapse, radiation exposure, earthquakes, snow storms — even terrorist activities. One area that is not so often highlighted when talking about emergency planning is lone worker protection. Lone worker safety is especially important, because workers in remote settings who get injured may not be able to communicate with their employer or get help fast enough. "There are thousands of people every year that are killed on the job that could have survived if they had rapid access to help," says Sean Stinson, Chief Revenue Officer, Blackline Safety. before, what an emergency looks like may be slightly different — and how to prepare for one may look different too. Emergency response planning covers a number of topics — emergencies are varied and can strike at any moment. In high risk industries such as mining or construction, flash fires are a huge hazard. But even in an office setting, a colleague may choke or have some kind of medical emergency that requires immediate assistance. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says that having a definite plan to handle major emergencies is a big part of OHS programs. In Canada, requirements depend on each province's health and safety legislation. The CCOHS says that one major advantage to properly assessing emergencies and developing a plan is that you may discover as of yet unrecognized hazards that need to be included. Having an adequate plan in "There are thousands of people every year that are killed on the job that could have survived if they had rapid access to help." Sean Stinson, Blackline Safety. The Good Samaritan Act, brought into law in Ontario in 2001, protects health care professionals and other individuals who help out at the scene with first aid from liability for negligence. It has four key parts, firstly consent: with very few exceptions, the first aider must ask for consent from the injured person. If the injured person is not able to provide consent, as would be the case with an uncon- scious person, then consent is implied. Reasonable skill and care: The first aider should pro- vide first aid in accordance with the level of knowledge and skill that they have. Negligence: The first aider must always act in the in- jured person's best interest. Abandonment: The first aid- er may not leave the scene/ injured person until someone more qualified takes over, or their safety is compromised (example: fire, threat of vio- lence, etc.). ONTARIO'S GOOD SAMARITAN ACT

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