Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine emergency preparedness for farm workers.
For farm workers, there are many emergencies and hazards that may occur. To prepare for these events, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that employers and supervisors develop and implement an emergency action plan.
Emergency action plans (EAP) identify and organize employer and worker responsibilities in preparing for and responding to workplace emergencies. Having an EAP in place can reduce confusion, lessen injuries, and reduce property damage during and after a disaster or other emergency, according to OSHA.
Agricultural emergencies can be natural or man-made. Natural emergencies include tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, severe winter storms, dust storms, lightning strikes, and earthquakes. Man-made disasters include wildfires, explosions or fires, animal handling incidents, grain entrapments, power failures, rotating and moving equipment incidents, chemical releases or spills, amputations, vehicle incidents, workplace violence, and accidental poisoning.
Preparing an EAP
The EAP should address all types of emergencies or disasters that could possibly occur on the farm. The plan should be written, but for smaller organizations, it doesn’t need to be written down and may be communicated verbally.
According to OSHA, the best EAPs should be customized for specific farm operations and include workers and family members in the planning process to identify emergency or disaster situations that can impact the farm.
Revise the EAP when shortcomings become known and review it at least annually. Employers should review the EAP with each worker when:
- A new worker is hired
- The plan is developed
- The worker’s workplace responsibilities or designated actions under the plan change
The EAP should include:
- Emergency escape procedures and rules
- Procedures to account for workers
- Procedures for workers who remain on site after the alarm sounds
- Duties for workers designated to perform rescue and medical functions
- The preferred means for reporting emergencies
- Contacts for more information
- Potential emergency events, incidents, and life-threatening situations
- Emergency escape routes, shelter-in-place locations, and rally points
- Floor plans and workplace maps
- A chain of command to prevent confusion and to coordinate the work
- Emergency communication equipment, such as two-way radios or a public address system for workers and first responder notification
- Special equipment needed for emergencies and disaster response
- Workers’ next-of-kin emergency phone numbers and contacts
- Farm inventory that includes location of livestock, electrical shut-off locations, buildings and structures, and farm machinery/equipment makes and model numbers
- Needed supplies, such as sandbags, fire extinguishers, gas-powered generators, and hand tools
- If needed, location of primary and secondary areas to relocate farm assets and workers
- Location of buildings in the vicinity that can be used as a command post or logistical assistance area
Emergency exercises with first responders
Work with local first responders or fire department to implement and exercise an EAP. Invite them to your farm to gather and record important information that could be crucial when making life-saving decisions at an incident, such as a grain bin entrapment, fire, or natural disaster. This pre-planning allows first responders to become familiar with:
- Farm’s physical layout, including buildings and other structures such as grain bins
- Hazardous chemicals (e.g., pesticides, anhydrous ammonia) and equipment (e.g., augers, PTOs)
- Locations where employees would be if an emergency occurred; important contacts, including daytime and nighttime contact information
- How utilities (e.g., electric, gas, and water) can be controlled
- Evacuation plans, security, etc.
- Emergency first responder limitations
Worker training/exercises and drills
Training for workers can vary depending on the operation. Some employers provide formal classroom-style training for workers while others provide individual training. Training should be conducted periodically or as needed to maintain preparedness. Also, training and training materials should be provided to workers in a language they understand, which may or may not be English.
Train workers in the following areas:
- Evacuation plans
- Alarm systems
- Reporting procedures for personnel
- Shutdown procedures
- Types of potential emergencies
Exercises and drills should be conducted annually or as needed to practice all or critical portions of the emergency response plan. After each drill, exercise, or emergency incident, hold a meeting to evaluate what happened, why it happened, and how it can be done better in the future.
If there is no infirmary, clinic, or hospital nearby, at least one person should be adequately trained to provide first aid. Basic first-aid supplies should be available and emergency phone numbers should be posted in visible places, inside farm vehicles, and on telephones.
Emergency response team
A well-trained and disciplined emergency response team is crucial during the first few minutes of an emergency. A farm emergency response may be provided by an outside organization, such as the fire department, or by the farm’s internal emergency response team. Workers who are on the emergency response team should be thoroughly trained and physically capable of performing emergency response duties and responsibilities.
Team members should know when to act themselves or wait for outside assistance when an emergency or disaster is too big to handle. One or more members on the team should be trained in:
- How and when to use various types of fire extinguishers
- First aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Shutdown procedures
- Chemical spill control procedures
- Emergency rescue procedures
For more information, see OSHA’s Emergency Preparedness for Farmworkers fact sheet.