There are a few things to remember about the emergency equipment you keep in your home or office. First and foremost, always keep these items within easy reach. This way, you can control and prevent injuries and emergencies. Secondly, you need to train employees to use the emergency equipment. Some organizations specialize in first aid training for businesses, so make sure that everyone in your office knows how to use these items.
Training
In a fire situation, emergency equipment is vital. It must be readily accessible and equipped with warning devices, such as sirens and lights. Training for emergency equipment should be a part of the induction process for all employees. Moreover, emergency equipment should be equipped with warning devices, such as warning signs, lights, and bells. In addition to training crew members in emergency equipment usage, employers should also ensure that the equipment is appropriately labeled and signposted.
The FAA provides guidelines and training requirements for flight attendants and crew members to use AEDs and emergency medical equipment. Emergency medical equipment includes an AC-121-33B or enhanced emergency medical kit. In addition, there must be a way to report an emergency to the local fire department, and you should install a notification system in the workplace. This system should include an updated list of key personnel, and you should inform employees in a prioritized order. This can be seen in the emergency equipment for East Coast.
Maintenance
When emergency equipment breaks down or an asset fails suddenly, the emergency maintenance team must act immediately to repair or replace it. They must determine the type of repair and schedule it promptly while keeping costs and schedules under control. They must also assess the effects of failure on employees, property, and safety and determine how to minimize downtime. If the emergency equipment breaks down, it may be necessary to temporarily evacuate the facility or shut down operations. Hence, it is crucial to identify the cause of the failure and determine whether or not emergency repairs are necessary.
A suitable maintenance procedure identifies preconditions and precautions and provides instructions on how to perform the maintenance procedure. The maintenance strategy and program should be based on these procedures. They should be developed in cooperation with designers, suppliers, radiation protection personnel, and other personnel to ensure their accuracy and validity. They should be regularly reviewed and validated. Maintenance procedures should be documented and readily available to all involved parties. Once complete, you can use the documentation to support maintenance activities.
Placement
If you’re an owner or operator of a business, you should evaluate the safety of your premises by ensuring that the emergency equipment is placed correctly. The placement of emergency equipment should be based on a pre-determined plan and follow the standard operating guidelines. The guidelines should include the safety of the responding workforce, ensuring roadway maintenance, towing services, and other emergency services. Additionally, pre-planning should consider the placement of special traffic warning equipment, transporting these, and placing volunteers’ vehicles where you will need them.
The ANSI Z358.1-2004 emergency standard specifies that emergency showers and eyewashes should be placed within ten seconds of hazards. Ten seconds is enough time to cover 55 feet, and the emergency equipment should be at the same level or lower. This is because physically impaired workers can’t reach fixtures on stairs. Additionally, eyewashes and other emergency equipment must be located near hazardous materials, which means they must be placed adjacent to the hazards.
Inspection
The inspection of emergency equipment is vital to its function and efficiency. Emergency equipment must be located within a 10-second walk from the identified hazard. Hence, it is crucial to inspect and service emergency equipment regularly. Furthermore, according to the University safety policy, you should check emergency equipment periodically to ensure that they remain in good working condition.
During pre-trip and post-trip inspections, drivers must know what to look for. Therefore, the process should be systematic, so drivers do not miss important details. To make the inspections easier for drivers, it is advisable to provide pre-trip training for all drivers and conduct periodic refresher training. Besides, a fleet manager should keep a watchful eye on drivers and carefully follow the checklist.
Reactive vs. emergency maintenance
Many people confuse emergency maintenance with other types of unplanned work. The most common confusion is between emergency and reactive maintenance. Reactive maintenance refers to work performed after an unexpected breakdown occurs. Emergency maintenance, while necessary, may not be the best option for all emergencies. When possible, you should use reactive maintenance for non-critical equipment. However, this does not mean that you should avoid preventive maintenance entirely. Instead, you should implement preventive and emergency maintenance strategies to ensure the best performance of an organization’s emergency equipment.
The most significant disadvantage of reactive maintenance is that it may not be as effective as proactive maintenance. It requires more staff, which can raise costs. It can also cause equipment to break down more quickly, requiring more frequent repairs and potentially a higher price to replace. Reactive maintenance is more efficient when a problem is identified early on. However, it is essential to consider the cost of reactive maintenance when assessing your emergency equipment’s uptime.
