Respond to emergency situations in ports

This standard covers the competence required to deal with emergency incidents in a port environment.  Incidents can be responding to a pollution incident, responding to emergency situations aboard vessels and administering first aid.  Where first aid is undertaken on board a vessel, it is important that this is only carried out by a qualified first aider.  It is about making the initial response to an emergency situation, raising the alarm, contacting the emergency services and providing initial assistance. 

 

This standard applies to port workers who are required to respond to incidents in ports.

There are 4 elements in this standard:

• Respond to emergency situations (Performance Criteria1-9)

• Respond to a pollution incident (Performance Criteria 10-20)

• Administer emergency first aid in ports (Performance Criteria 21-25)

• Respond to emergency situations aboard vessels (Performance Criteria 26-34)

1. follow organisational procedures for responding to an emergency situation 2. report the emergency immediately to the relevant persons, identifying the nature and location of the emergency 3. apply emergency shut down or isolation procedures within own area of responsibility, as soon as practicable 4. alert all people in the vicinity of the incident, clearing them from the area, and bar access to the area to non-essential personnel 5. determine the full nature and extent of the incident where it is practicable and safe to do so 6. take appropriate measures to bring the situation under control and to assist any person in distress, where practicable and safe to do so 7. respond to instructions from the relevant authority, including emergency services personnel and the organisation's managers 8. assist the organisation with post incident investigation to the limits of own responsibility 9. following an emergency situation, provide objective information to the incident investigator 10. raise the alarm and notify the relevant person as soon as it is reasonably practicable, upon becoming aware of a pollution incident  11. establish the nature and the source of the pollution, and estimate the quantity of any spillage where it is practicable and safe to do so 12. make prompt contact with those at the source of the pollution to prevent its continuation, where it is practicable and safe to do so 13. track the pollution and assess its likely effect upon the environment where it is practicable and safe to do so 14. identify and obtain, the appropriate equipment and materials required for clearing the pollutant, and confirm that these are in good working order before commencing the work 15. report incidents to the relevant emergency services, identifying the nature and location of the incident  16. use the appropriate equipment and materials to contain the pollution  17. dispose of the pollutant in line with own level of authority and organisational procedures as soon as it is practicable and safe to do so  18. check that the equipment used in a pollution incident is cleaned and stored upon completion, with equipment stocks checked and replenished  19. identify any faulty or damaged equipment, and refer this for repair 20. assist the organisation with post incident investigation as required 21. respond to the needs of casualties with minor injuries and illnesses through: 1. checking the area for danger and responding accordingly 2. reassuring the casualty and obtaining, where possible, the history and symptoms of the injury/illness 3. assessing the casualty and establishing the nature and extent of any injury 4. applying first aid treatment appropriate to the type and severity of the condition 5. calling for additional help, if necessary 6. informing the casualty of the action taken and sources of further help and advice 22. respond to the needs of casualties with major injuries through: 1. checking the area for danger and responding accordingly 2. reassuring the casualty and obtaining, where possible, the history of the incident 3. assessing the extent and severity of the casualty's condition 4. placing the casualty in an appropriate position of rest  5. protecting the casualty from heat or cold 6. treating the casualty in accordance with current practice 7. complying with hygiene procedures to avoid preventable infection 8. controlling bleeding by applying direct or indirect pressure and appropriate dressings or bandages 9. checking for and, where possible, maintaining circulation beyond bandaging 10. immobilising and supporting injuries in line with current practice 11. calling promptly for additional help 23. respond to the needs of casualties with medical conditions through: 1. checking the area for danger and responding accordingly 2. reassuring the casualty and obtaining, where possible, the history of the problem 3. assessing the extent and the severity of the casualty's condition 4. placing the casualty in an appropriate position of rest 5. protecting the casualty from heat or cold 6. complying with hygiene procedures as much as possible 7. treating the casualty in accordance with current practice 8. calling for additional help promptly 24. respond to the needs of unconscious casualties through: 1. checking the area for danger and responding accordingly 2. checking the casualty's level of consciousness and breathing 3. opening the casualty's airway by head tilt 4. looking for and removing obvious obstructions in the mouth 5. lifting the casualty's chin 6. checking the casualty for injuries, if appropriate 7. checking for the presence of any life-threatening conditions 8. moving the casualty to the recovery position in line with current practice 9. monitoring the casualty's condition and noting any change 10. reassuring the casualty throughout 25. perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) through: 1. checking the area for danger and responding accordingly 2. checking the casualty's level of consciousness 3. opening the casualty's airway by tilting the head  4. checking for breathing and removing any obstructions from the mouth 5. lifting the casualty's chin 6. applying rescue breaths at the rate and depth specified in first aid training 7. checking for signs of circulation 8. applying chest compressions in the position and at the rate and depth specified in first aid training 9. continuing with affective rescue breaths and chest compressions in line with current practice 10. monitoring for returning circulation in line with current practice 11. calling promptly for additional help 26. follow organisation procedures for responding to emergency situations aboard vessels 27. identify the type of emergency taking place 28. report the emergency immediately to the relevant persons identifying the nature and location of any incident 29. follow the procedures and take the necessary precautions according to the types of emergency  30. comply with the vessel's muster procedures 31. clear and bar all non-essential personnel from the area of the fire when instructed to do so 32. respond to instructions from the master of the craft 33. record the nature of the incident and all actions taken following an emergency situation, as required by organisation's procedure 34. provide objective information to the incident investigator

1. the legal responsibilities for maintaining own and others' health and safety in your workplace  2. the requirements placed upon the individual and the organisation by current legislation, relevant to own area of operations  3. current industry guidance, relevant to own area of operations  4. own organisation's policies, procedures and working practices relevant to own area of operations  5. the principle types of hazard and risk likely to be found in own area of operations  6. the precautions appropriate for minimising the risks to self in own area of operations, when to emergency situation in the port 7. how to wear, use and maintain personal protective equipment, relevant to own area of operations  8. how to locate, use and maintain the principle types of safety and incident response equipment relevant to own area of operations 9. accident and emergency procedures of the organisation and individual roles and responsibilities, relevant to own area of operations  10. location of and how to operate alarm systems in port and aboard vessels, in own area of operations  11. location of the approved escape routes and assembly points in own area of operations  12. the layout of vessels, including access/escape routes, in own area of operations  13. how to evacuate a vessel, in own area of operations,   14. own responsibilities for reporting accidents and emergencies  15. the principal causes of fire at ports and aboard vessels  16. the principles underlying the spread of fire  17. firefighting techniques to be used on different types of fire, and the purpose and limitations of different firefighting equipment  18. the importance of constant vigilance in fire prevention and in minimising the risk of fire  19. the nature of incidents requiring contact with the emergency services and the procedures for doing this  20. the limits of own responsibility when dealing with incidents within the port  21. the roles and responsibilities of the relevant personnel to be contacted in emergencies, and the location at which they can be contacted  22. the layout of the port, including access roads to area of operations  23. organisational requirements relating to post-incident recording  24. local geography and water conditions, including navigable channels and tides, and their impact upon tracking pollutants and for the manoeuvring of craft within the port  25. the limitations and risks associated with applying first aid to others  26. how to check for signs of life and for life-threatening conditions  27. how to manage an unconscious casualty and the main causes of unconsciousness  28. how to detect an obstructed airway and understand the methods of clearing obstructions  29. methods of resuscitation and when and how to use them  30. the precautions to be taken when performing resuscitation  31. how to recognise and assess the severity and extent of injuries  32. the methods for controlling bleeding  33. the signs and symptoms of shock  34. the different types of wounds and their treatment  35. the main safety considerations when dealing with burns and scalds  36. how to recognise and treat sprains, strains and fractures  37. the treatments for hypothermia, frostbite, heat-stroke and heat exhaustion