Emergency conditions can occur in a treatment plant as a result of natural disaster, civil disorders, and equipment failures. The purpose of this chapter is to aid the operating personnel in developing a program designed to:
- Eliminate or minimize adverse effects from emergency situations affecting the treatment system.
- Develop procedures for properly responding to emergencies.
- Provide instruction for system personnel to ensure they understand their responsibilities during emergency situations.
- Provide inventories of available emergency equipment and outline existing mutual aid agreements and contracts with outside organizations for specialized assistance.
The importance of having emergency planning for the water treatment plant cannot be overemphasized. The 2001 OSHA How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations can be used as a guide to develop an emergency and response program. Plant personnel should become thoroughly familiar with the publication and the final emergency and response program. See Appendix G for additional information.