B2. Emergency Preparedness

Code 8.0

Potential emergency situations and events shall be identified and assessed, and their impact minimized by implementing emergency plans and response procedures including emergency reporting, employee notification and evacuation procedures, worker training, and drills. Emergency drills shall be executed at least annually or as required by local law, whichever is more stringent. Emergency plans shall also include appropriate fire detection and suppression equipment, clear and unobstructed egress, adequate exit facilities, contact information for emergency responders, and recovery plans. Such plans and procedures shall focus on minimizing harm to life, the environment, and property.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code include those below and the health and safety checklists "B2 Emergency preparedness: Fire Detection, alarm, and suppression" and "B2 Emergency preparedness: Fire exits" later in this document.

1. Policy

Have a detailed, comprehensive documented emergency preparedness policy with elements including:

• a. Commitment that site will comply with the stricter of local law, RBA Code of Conduct, insurance company requirement, or customer requirements regarding emergency preparedness, equipment, training, and response.
• b. Ensure that there is proper budget and staffing allocated to install and maintain the exit, detection, alarm, detection, response, and suppression systems as well as training of individuals and coordination with local authorities.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. Equipment
  • i. Detection: Automatic heat and/or smoke detection as required by law or the insurance company. Detection devices and systems are functioning and well-maintained.
  • ii. Alarm: All buildings have a manual or automatic fire alarm and notification system, and the system is functioning normally. Fire alarm manual call points or pull-stations are provided at or along egress routes to exits.
  • iii. Fire suppression:
    1. Portable fire extinguishers are installed, with unimpeded access and current inspection tags.
    2. Automatic fire sprinklers as required by law or insurance company.
  • iv. Fire hoses (if present) with unimpeded access and inspection tags. The fire water tank and water pressure are normal.
  • v. Asbestos-containing fire-suppression materials (e.g., blankets) are prohibited.
• b. Facility staff or a consultant has performed an assessment of potential emergency situations.
• c. Emergency Preparedness
  • i. Emergency response plans have been developed and implemented to address the potential emergency events identified in the assessment (e.g., chemical spill, equipment malfunction, occupational injury, fire, earthquake, weather event, violence)
  • ii. The facility has implemented emergency reporting procedures, including training for workers on how to report an emergency.
  • iii. The facility maintains alarms and/or a public address system to notify workers of an emergency.
  • iv. The facility has implemented evacuation and relocation procedures, and the procedures are tested on a regular basis.
  • v. Workers are trained in emergency reporting, notification and evacuation and relocation.
• d. Emergency evacuation drills are conducted regularly for all work areas and shifts. Specifically:
  • i. Fire evacuation Drills⁴
    1. All workers (direct/indirect) must have been part of an evacuation drill.
    2. All work shifts must have been part of an evacuation drill.
    3. At least one evacuation drill is conducted while it is dark outside (this helps to identify access, lighting, and other gaps).
    4. Drills should include every area (including dormitory, cafeteria, warehouse, office areas, production floors, research, development laboratories, shipping/receiving)
  • ii. Other identified emergency evacuations: scope, frequency and process should be determined through risk assessment, local law, or customer requirement.

NOTE: When there is a large turnover in staff, heavy growth and/or significant changes to operations (e.g., new building, equipment/warehouse layout change) a new drill should be conducted.

⁴ Fire evacuation frequency is at least every 365 days not "1 time per year."

• e. The facility provides an adequate number of exits and maintains exit aisles and passageways free of obstructions, locked doors and other impediments to easy egress including:
  • i. Clear and unobstructed egress (i.e., exit access, exit, and exit discharge)
    1. An adequate number of effective exit routes from every area
    2. An appropriate distance separates exit routes and does not share a common exit.
    3. Exit routes are clear of obstructions.
    4. Exit discharges discharge to open space/parking lot and do not discharge to an enclosed/gated/locked area.
    5. Exits are free of material storage, and enclosures are not used for any other purpose except for egress.
    6. All exit route doors (i.e., exit access doors, exit discharge doors) that serve high occupancy (=>50), or hazardous areas open in the direction of egress.
    7. All Exit Route doors (i.e., Exit Access doors and Exit Discharge doors) should open without using a key, badge, code, special knowledge, or effort.
    8. All Exit Discharge doors shall be a single motion exit, or have Listed Panic Hardware installed, which is pushed open in a single motion
  • ii. Exit signs:
    1. Exit signs are provided to mark exits on every floor.
    2. Exit signs are illuminated and/or lighted in the event of a power failure.
    3. Additional exit and/or directional signs are provided at main passageways/aisles, long corridors, and other locations where the way to the nearest exit is unclear.
  • iii. Emergency lighting:
    1. Emergency lighting is provided and installed to illuminate means of egress in the event of a power failure.
    2. Lighting shall provide adequate, functional emergency lighting in stairs, aisles, corridors, ramps, passageways leading to exits, and other areas as required by applicable laws.
    3. Either battery or backup generator may power emergency lighting.
  • iv. Separation:
    1. Penetrations are limited to sprinkler pipes, standpipes, electrical services, pipe, and duct installation serving the enclosures.
    2. Openings into the enclosures are protected by fire-rated doors or windows.
    3. Fire doors are in good condition, self-closing, or automatic closing (upon fire alarm or detection of smoke).
    4. The integrity of exit enclosures is maintained.
  • v. Muster points
    1. Muster points have been established in safe locations to enable employee accountability during an emergency.
    2. Muster points shall be outside (fire, chemical release) and inside (If extreme weather conditions exist).
    3. Emergency response kits
    4. Emergency response kits are easily located and accessible near muster points.

NOTE: Non-conforming situations for Exit Route doors include:

1. Multiple steps are required to open doors.
2. Anything requiring a tight grasp.
3. Rolling doors that open vertically.

NOTE: On designated Exit Routes, rolling doors shall not be adopted as the designated / marked emergency Exit Doors. On designated Exit Routes, sliding doors shall only be adopted as the designated/marked emergency Exit Doors if there is a safety feature to be demonstrated in the assessment, which allows the doors to swing to a full-open position in the direction of travel.

• f. The facility maintains adequate first aid supplies or other provisions for emergency care.
• g. Efforts are made to reduce risk such as
  • i. Combustible storage is minimized and limited to areas with adequate fire detection and protection.
  • ii. Flammable and combustible materials are properly stored to prevent the accumulation of vapors. Ignition hazards (e.g., smoking, electrical sparks, open flames, ...) are eliminated in areas where combustible and flammable materials are stored or used or if there is a flammable atmosphere.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. Inspections, maintenance, testing and replacement to the stricter or local law, insurance, or the following:

NOTE: Portable fire extinguishers shall be inspected at least monthly, Single-unit smoke/fire detectors shall be inspected and tested at least every 6 months.

• i. All other fire safety equipment, the frequency shall not be less than that required/recommended by the manufacturer or insurance company, whichever is more stringent.
• ii. All facilities to identify gaps, risks which might lead to an emergency and/or impede the ability to respond and/or evacuate efficiently and safely.
• b. Periodically select and follow egress routes out of the building to the assembly/shelter point to confirm conformance.
• c. Documenting of evacuation drills followed by analysis and reporting to management on results and plans for improvement.

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. Business continuity and business resumption plans are available, current, and adequate.
• b. The emergency response plan (ERP) is available, current, adequate, and reflects the risk assessment, including contact information for emergency responders.
• c. A post-emergency plan is available, current, and adequate, which includes incident reporting, root cause investigation, and corrective/preventative actions.
• d. Inspection, maintenance, test and replacement records of equipment and infrastructure including but not limited to fire extinguishers, smoke/fire detectors, alarm, sprinklers, exits (including routes, doors)
• e. Evaluation drill plans and then reports of the drills including date, time began/ended, shift, area, metrics (e.g., time to evacuate), gaps, Corrective action plan that is tracked and reported to completion.

5. Serious conditions that will result in a severe finding

• Not having firefighting equipment available
• Not having sprinkler or automatic detection systems when they are required by law or insurance or other.
• Not having alarm and notification system in place throughout the facilities
• The fire alarm control system disengaged, not functioning properly.
• Having firefighting equipment, automatic Detection System or alarm or notification systems are in place, however their function or effectiveness is diminished in such a way that there would be an immediate risk to life during an emergency.
• Not having a comprehensive and up to date Emergency Response Plan.
• Any emergency support facilities present or poor operating condition such that their function or effectiveness is diminished.
• Emergency exit that is blocked, has restricted egress, or is lacking easy means of egress (i.e., key, badge, code) which would pose an immediate risk to life during an emergency.
• No emergency evacuation drill has been held in the last 2 years or within 1 month after the start of operations of the site or a Significant Change.

1.0.0 (2024-01-01)

Initial release.