Faced with a complex facility layout, how can you tailor emergency response procedures effectively?

Familiarization with the facility and "key players" are key to determining response procedures. For fire departments you want to have your first due, and possibly second companies, perform a walkthrough of the building(s). The time for your personnel to know what is behind a certain door, or in a building, is during a controlled visit, not at 2 AM when the building is on fire. Developing relationships with the business owner(s), and business personnel who will be in charge is another important aspect of preplanning response procedures. One-on-one discussions can be very productive as the business and responders discuss their needs and concerns. Regular follow-up is needed as personnel move on, change positions, etc.

start with a tour of the building, off hours with the building manager, security staff and maintenance staff. They know that building. You can build your plans to be in line with their plans. But not every plan is perfect. Revisit every year. knowing the little things like you can access the Security office via this outside door can say you time if you are going there for an active shooter or a security issue. If you can get a map of the building, that can help you train your staff. Fire prevention units, building or zoning could have copies. Have others like that help you, that have that information. Information sharing is key.

One of the keys is understanding the worst case sequence of potential events and what can impact on other risks. It’s great understanding the specific risks and their impact, but you need to know the potential domino effects too.

Research the history of the building using building construction plans for building construction, pre-fire plans by local fire department, suppression equipment available. Perform a walk through during a site visit and ask security personnel is there is a current layout available. Do a risk analysis for the jurisdiction for man made and natural disaster history. Provide recommendations to site personnel for procedures that are needed based on your risk analysis and site visit. The analysis will drive what SOP are of the highest priority for the facility.

The additional component is to hold regular training for building occupants so they are aware of the procedures, and what is expected of them during any of the emergencies that have been identified as a potential.

The police should be stationed at strategic points to prevent drivers and pedestrians from accessing the area around the incident. Apart from using the public speaker, messages can be on air on FM stations so they can divert their routes to their location. Firefighters should help evacuate people whine the incident scene calmly to prevent accidents and also make them go to the hazchem machine should they mistakenly absolve chemical in the air onto their skin.