BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING

Transcription

1 BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING ADDRESSING HAZARDS Prvided by: The Hlmes Organisatin Lake Mead Ave., Ste. 802 Jacksnville, FL Tel: (904)

2 BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING: ADDRESSING HAZARDS T develp a cmprehensive business cntinuity plan, yu will need t identify the special hazards that yur business faces s yu can develp a way t respnd. T assist yu in establishing prcedures fr hazards, use this reference t determine specific cnsideratins fr hazardus materials, technical emergencies, fires, trnads, severe winter strm hazards, flds, earthquakes and hurricanes. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DANGERS Hazardus materials are substances that are flammable, cmbustible, explsive, txic, nxius, crrsive, xidizable, an irritant r radiactive. A hazardus material spill r release can pse a risk t life, health and prperty. An incident can result in the evacuatin f a few peple, a sectin f a facility r an entire neighbrhd. There are a number f federal laws that regulate hazardus materials, including: the Superfund Amendments and Reauthrizatin Act f 1986 (SARA), the Resurce Cnservatin and Recvery Act f 1976 (RCRA), the Hazardus Materials Transprtatin Act (HMTA), the Occupatinal Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Txic Substances Cntrl Act (TSCA) and the Clean Air Act. Title III f SARA regulates the packaging, labeling, handling, strage and transprtatin f hazardus materials. The law requires facilities t furnish infrmatin abut the quantities and health effects f materials used at the facility and t prmptly ntify lcal and state fficials whenever a significant release f hazardus materials ccurs. In additin t n-site hazards, yu shuld be aware f the ptential fr an ff-site incident affecting yur peratins. Yu shuld als be aware f hazardus materials used in facility prcesses and in the cnstructin f the physical plant. Detailed definitins, as well as lists f hazardus materials, can be btained frm the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency (EPA) and frm OSHA. Planning cnsideratins fr hazardus material hazards: Identify and label all hazardus materials stred, handled, prduced and dispsed f by yur facility. Fllw gvernment regulatins that apply t yur facility. Obtain Safety Data Sheets (SDS) fr all hazardus materials at yur lcatin. Ask the lcal fire department fr assistance in develping apprpriate respnse prcedures. Train emplyees t recgnize and reprt hazardus material spills and releases. Train emplyees in prper handling and strage. Establish a hazardus material respnse plan: - Establish prcedures t ntify management and emergency respnse rganizatins f an incident. - Establish prcedures t warn emplyees f an incident. - Establish evacuatin prcedures. Depending n yur peratins, rganize and train an emergency respnse team t cnfine and cntrl hazardus material spills in accrdance with applicable regulatins. Identify ther facilities in yur area that use hazardus materials. Determine whether an incident culd affect yur facility. Identify highways, railrads and waterways near yur facility used fr the transprtatin f hazardus materials. Determine hw a transprtatin accident near yur facility culd affect yur peratins.

3 TECHNICAL EMERGENCY HAZARDS Technlgical emergencies include any interruptin r lss f a utility service, pwer surce, life supprt system, infrmatin system r equipment needed t keep the business in peratin. Planning cnsideratins fr technical emergencies: Identify all critical peratins, including: - Utilities including electric pwer, gas, water, hydraulics, cmpressed air, wastewater treatment services, municipal and internal sewer systems. - Security and alarm systems, elevatrs, lighting, life supprt systems, heating, ventilatin and air cnditining systems, electrical distributin system. - Manufacturing equipment, pllutin cntrl equipment. - Cmmunicatin systems, bth data and vice cmputer netwrks. - Transprtatin systems including air, highway, railrad and waterway. Determine the impact f service disruptin. Ensure that key safety and maintenance persnnel are thrughly familiar with all building systems. Establish preventive maintenance schedules fr all systems and equipment. Establish prcedures fr restring systems, and determine need fr backup systems. FIRE HAZARDS Fire is the mst cmmn f all the hazards. Every year, fires cause thusands f injuries and deaths in additin t billins f dllars in prperty damage. Planning cnsideratins fr fire hazards: Meet with the fire department t talk abut the cmmunity's fire respnse capabilities and the specific needs f yur peratins. Identify prcesses and materials that culd cause r fuel a fire r cntaminate the envirnment in a fire. Have yur facility inspected fr fire hazards. Be sure t ask abut fire cdes and regulatins. Ask yur insurance carrier t recmmend fire preventin and prtectin measures. Yur carrier may als ffer training. Distribute fire safety infrmatin t emplyees: hw t prevent fires in the wrkplace, hw t cntain a fire, hw t evacuate the facility and where t reprt a fire. Instruct persnnel t use the stairs nt elevatrs in the event f a fire. Instruct them t crawl n their hands and knees when escaping a ht r smke-filled area. FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD HAZARDS Flds are the mst cmmn and widespread f all natural disasters. Mst cmmunities in the United States can experience sme degree f flding after spring rains, heavy thunderstrms r winter snw thaws, and mst flds develp slwly ver a perid f days. Flash flds, hwever, are like walls f water that develp in a matter f minutes. Flash flds can be caused by intense strms r dam failure. Planning cnsideratins fr flds/flash flds: Ask yur lcal emergency management ffice whether yur facility is lcated in a fld plain. Learn the histry f flding in yur area, including the elevatin f yur facility in relatin t streams, rivers and dams.

4 Review the cmmunity's emergency plan and evacuatin rutes. Knw where t find higher grund in case f a fld. Establish warning and evacuatin prcedures fr the facility. Be sure t make plans fr assisting emplyees wh may need transprtatin. Inspect areas in yur facility subject t flding, and identify recrds and equipment that can be mved t a higher lcatin. Make plans t mve recrds and equipment in case f fld. Purchase a NOAA Weather Radi with a warning alarm tne and battery backup. Listen fr fld watches and warnings. - Fld Watch: Flding is pssible. Stay tuned t NOAA radi. Be prepared t evacuate. Tune t lcal radi and televisin statins fr additinal infrmatin. - Fld Warning: Flding is already ccurring r will ccur sn. Take precautins at nce. Be prepared t g t higher grund. If advised, evacuate immediately. Ask The Hlmes Organisatin fr infrmatin abut fld insurance. In general, mst plicies d nt cver flding. Cnsider the feasibility f fldprfing yur facility. There are three basic methds. 1. Permanent fldprfing measures are taken befre a fld ccurs and require n human interventin when fld waters rise. They include: Filling windws, drs r ther penings with water-resistant materials, such as cncrete blcks r bricks. This apprach assumes the structure is strng enugh t withstand fld waters. Installing check valves t prevent water frm entering where utility and sewer lines enter the facility. Reinfrcing walls t resist water pressure r sealing walls t prevent/reduce seepage. Building watertight walls arund equipment r wrk areas within the facility that are particularly susceptible t fld damage. Cnstructing fldwalls r levees utside the facility t keep fld waters away. Elevating the facility n walls, clumns r cmpacted fill. This apprach is mst applicable t new cnstructin, thugh many types f buildings can be elevated. 2. Cntingent fldprfing measures are als taken befre a fld but require sme additinal actin when flding ccurs. These measures include: Installing watertight barriers called fld shields t prevent the passage f water thrugh drs, windws, ventilatin shafts r ther penings. Installing permanent, watertight drs. Cnstructing mvable fldwalls. Installing permanent pumps t remve fld waters. 3. Emergency fldprfing measures are generally less expensive than thse listed abve, thugh they require substantial advance warning and d nt satisfy the minimum requirements fr watertight fldprfing as set frth by the Natinal Fld Insurance Prgram (NFIP). They include: Building walls with sandbags. Cnstructing a duble rw f walls with bards and psts t create a "crib," then filling the crib with sil. Cnstructing a single wall by stacking small beams r planks n tp f each ther. Participate in cmmunity fld cntrl prjects. Cnsider the need fr backup systems: Prtable pumps t remve fld water.

5 Alternate pwer surces such as generatrs r gasline-pwered pumps. Battery-pwered emergency lighting. SEVERE WINTER STORM HAZARDS Severe winter strms bring heavy snw, ice, strng winds and freezing rain. Winter strms can prevent emplyees and custmers frm reaching the facility, leading t a temprary shutdwn until rads are cleared. Heavy snw and ice can als cause structural damage and pwer utages. Planning cnsideratins fr severe winter strms: Listen t NOAA Weather Radi and lcal radi and televisin statins fr weather infrmatin: - Winter strm watch -- Severe winter weather is pssible. - Winter strm warning -- Severe winter weather is expected. - Blizzard warning -- Severe winter weather with sustained winds f at least 35 mph is expected. - Traveler's advisry -- Severe winter cnditins may make driving difficult r dangerus. Cllabrate with federal, state and lcal public health agencies and/r emergency respnders t establish prcedures fr facility shutdwn and early release f emplyees. Stre fd, water, blankets, battery-pwered radis with extra batteries and ther emergency supplies fr emplyees wh becme stranded at the facility. Prvide a backup pwer surce fr critical peratins. Arrange fr snw and ice remval frm parking lts, walkways, lading dcks, etc. TORNADO HAZARDS A trnad is an incredibly vilent lcal strm that extends t the grund with whirling winds that can reach 300 mph. Spawned frm pwerful thunderstrms, trnades can uprt trees and buildings and turn harmless bjects int deadly missiles in a matter f secnds. Damage paths can be in excess f ne mile wide and 50 miles lng. Trnades can ccur in any state but ccur mst frequently in the Midwest, Sutheast and Suthwest. They ccur with little r n warning. Planning cnsideratins fr trnades: Ask yur lcal emergency management ffice abut the cmmunity's trnad warning system. Purchase a NOAA Weather Radi with a warning alarm tne and battery backup. Listen fr trnad watches and warnings: - A Trnad watch means trnades are likely. Be ready t take shelter. Stay tuned t radi and televisin statins fr additinal infrmatin. - A Trnad warning means a trnad has been sighted in the area r is indicated by radar. Take shelter immediately. Establish prcedures t infrm persnnel when trnad warnings are psted. Cnsider the need fr sptters t be respnsible fr lking ut fr appraching strms. Wrk with a structural engineer r architect t designate shelter areas in yur facility. Ask yur lcal emergency management ffice r Natinal Weather Service ffice fr guidance. The best prtectin in a trnad is usually an undergrund area. If an undergrund area is nt available, cnsider: - Small interir rms n the lwest flr and withut windws. - Hallways n the lwest flr away frm drs and windws.

6 - Rms cnstructed with reinfrced cncrete, brick r blck with n windws and a heavy cncrete flr r rf system verhead. - Prtected areas away frm drs and windws. Nte that auditriums, cafeterias and gymnasiums that are cvered with a flat, wide-span rf are nt cnsidered safe. Make plans fr evacuating persnnel away frm lightweight mdular ffices r mbile hmesize buildings. These structures ffer n prtectin frm trnades. Cnduct scheduled trnad drills t test yur plan. EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS Earthquakes ccur mst frequently west f the Rcky Muntains, althugh histrically the mst vilent earthquakes have ccurred in the central United States. Earthquakes ccur suddenly and withut warning and can seriusly damage buildings and their cntents; disrupt gas, electric and telephne services r trigger landslides, avalanches, flash flds, fires and huge cean waves called tsunamis. Aftershcks can ccur fr weeks fllwing an earthquake. In many buildings, the greatest danger t peple in an earthquake is when equipment and nn-structural elements such as ceilings, partitins, windws and lighting fixtures shake lse. Planning cnsideratins fr earthquakes: Assess yur facility's vulnerability t earthquakes. Ask lcal gvernment agencies fr seismic infrmatin fr yur area. Have yur facility inspected by a structural engineer. Develp and priritize strengthening measures. These may include: - Adding steel bracing t frames. - Adding sheer walls t frames. - Strengthening clumns and building fundatins. - Replacing unreinfrced brick filler walls. Fllw safety cdes when cnstructing a facility r making majr renvatins. Inspect nn-structural systems such as air cnditining, cmmunicatins and pllutin cntrl systems. Assess the ptential fr damage. Priritize measures t prevent damages. Inspect yur facility fr any item that culd fall, spill, break r mve during an earthquake. Take steps t reduce these hazards. Mve large and heavy bjects t lwer shelves r the flr. Hang heavy items away frm where peple wrk. Secure shelves, filing cabinets, tall furniture, desktp equipment, cmputers, printers, cpiers and light fixtures. Secure fixed equipment and heavy machinery t the flr. Larger equipment can be placed n casters and attached t tethers that attach t the wall. Add bracing t suspended ceilings, if necessary. Install safety glass where apprpriate. Secure large utility and prcess piping. Keep cpies f design drawings f the facility, preferably ff-site in case f a catastrphe, t be used in assessing the facility's safety after an earthquake. Review prcesses fr handling and string hazardus materials. Have incmpatible chemicals stred separately. Ask yur insurance carrier abut earthquake insurance and mitigatin techniques.

7 Establish prcedures t determine whether an evacuatin is necessary after an earthquake. Designate areas in the facility away frm exterir walls and windws where ccupants shuld gather after an earthquake if an evacuatin is nt necessary. Cnduct earthquake drills. Prvide persnnel with the fllwing safety infrmatin: - In an earthquake, if indrs, stay there. Take cver under a sturdy piece f furniture r cunter, r brace yurself against an inside wall. Prtect yur head and neck. - If utdrs, mve int the pen, away frm buildings, street lights and utility wires. - Use stairways t leave the building if it is determined that a building evacuatin is necessary. - After an earthquake, stay away frm windws, skylights and items that culd fall. D nt use the elevatrs. HURRICANE HAZARDS Hurricanes are severe trpical strms with sustained winds f 74 miles per hur r greater. Hurricane winds can reach 160 miles per hur and extend inland fr hundreds f miles. Hurricanes bring trrential rains and a strm surge f cean water that crashes int land as the strm appraches. Hurricanes can als spawn trnades. Hurricane advisries are issued by the Natinal Weather Service as sn as a hurricane appears t be a threat. The hurricane seasn lasts frm June thrugh Nvember. Planning cnsideratins fr hurricanes: Ask yur lcal emergency management ffice abut cmmunity evacuatin plans. Establish facility shutdwn prcedures. Establish warning and evacuatin prcedures. Make plans fr assisting emplyees wh may need transprtatin. Make plans fr cmmunicating with emplyees' families befre and after a hurricane. Purchase a NOAA Weather Radi with a warning alarm tne and battery backup. Listen fr hurricane watches and warnings: - Hurricane watch -- A hurricane is pssible within 24 t 36 hurs. Stay tuned fr additinal advisries. Tune t lcal radi and televisin statins fr additinal infrmatin. An evacuatin may be necessary. - Hurricane warning -- A hurricane will hit land within 24 hurs. Take precautins at nce. If advised, evacuate immediately. Survey yur facility. Make plans t prtect utside equipment and structures Make plans t prtect windws. Permanent strm shutters ffer the best prtectin. Cvering windws with 5/8' marine plywd is a secnd ptin. Cnsider the need fr backup systems: - Prtable pumps t remve fld water. - Alternate pwer surces such as generatrs r gasline-pwered pumps. - Battery-pwered emergency lighting. - Prepare t mve recrds, cmputers and ther items within yur facility r t anther lcatin. Surce: FEMA. This flyer is fr infrmatinal purpses nly and is nt intended as prfessinal advice.