Any business that stores or handles petroleum products must ensure their personnel are emergency response trained to comply with Canadian legislation and to minimize the harmful effects of a spill, leak, fire or explosion.
Why specialized training is necessary
Petroleum products are flammable and toxic, and when stored in large quantities, these risks are magnified. Should a storage tank be breached or its integrity compromised, the effects can be devastating, both to human health and to the environment. Even a minor spill or leak could release harmful gas, pollute water sources and contaminate wildlife habitats. In confined spaces, explosions and fires become more likely.
For these reasons, providing rigorous and specialized safety training is essential to make sure all personnel working in the vicinity of the storage tank understand their responsibilities and know how to respond to an emergency should one arise.
Key topics in emergency response training courses
Emergency response training courses are designed to equip attendees with the skills and knowledge to safely and swiftly respond to an emergency, intervening quickly to limit the harmful effects and to maintain a safe working environment. To achieve this aim, most emergency response training courses will cover topics such as:
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Hazard identification and risk assessment
Workers will be informed of the hazards associated with on-site petroleum storage tanks so that they can accurately assess the risk posed by their particular setup and be able to act accordingly if it deviates outside of normal operating parameters.
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Containment
The most common emergency involving petroleum storage tanks is a spill or leak, so personnel will be trained to contain and clean up the spillage using appropriate materials and techniques, including safe disposal of hazardous waste.
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First aid
People who come into contact with petroleum products can experience breathing difficulties, burns or chemical exposure. Attendees are trained to assess the severity of the injuries and deliver appropriate first aid while awaiting medical evacuation.
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Evacuation
It is often unsafe for personnel to remain within the vicinity of a petroleum products emergency, so course attendees are taught how to assess the situation, coordinate with various services and determine how and when to evacuate. They will often also be taught how to account for all personnel to prevent emergency services from being unnecessarily required to re-enter a hazardous environment.
Who needs to be involved in an emergency response?
Few petroleum product incidents can be contained within the affected organization, so an escalation and communication plan is necessary to control engagement with external agencies, including the Canadian Coast Guard, the police, the fire department, the medical team and any relevant environmental agencies. Coordinating with these organizations is essential to minimize the impact of the incident, to safeguard workers and to reduce the risk of environmental contamination.
Understanding danger
Emergency response training is a targeted intervention designed to instil an effective safety culture, empower workers and educate them on their legal responsibilities. Workers who understand and respect the dangers associated with petroleum storage tanks in their working environments are better able to recognize and overcome the risks they face in their daily duties.