Agencies need to update plans PEF strives to strengthen emergency response plans By DEBORAH A. MILES Many state agencies have inadequate or outdated written emergency preparedness plans. But since the tragedy at the World Trade Center, emergency response programs are becoming a top priority for the state and PEF leaders. “There is a heightened awareness of the need for improved emergency preparedness, emergency response and evacuation procedures,” said PEF Director of Occupational Safety and Health Jonathan Rosen. PEF President Roger Benson has written to Gov. George Pataki and William Howard, first deputy director of state operations, about the problems and offered PEF’s cooperation and assistance. “I realize that no one could have predicted the proportion of the emergency that we experienced on September 11. However, I am sure you would agree that one lesson we all learned is that effective emergency response systems need to be in place, so that we can quickly respond appropriately,” Benson wrote. “Currently, multiple parties conduct oversight of agency fire-and-life-safety programs. This has often led to gridlock, since the various entities go by different standards and have different systems for consultation, inspection and enforcement.” Good plans save lives Rosen said PEF would like to see protocols, policies and guidelines developed at a statewide level and disseminated to the agencies. “We’re going to do whatever we have to do to make sure these programs are in place,” he said. PEF’s health and safety committee chairs and other union leaders are scheduled to meet December 6 for training. It will cover emergency preparedness and how to deal with bio-terrorism threats. “These plans must, at least, meet the minimum requirements under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act standards, which are enforced by the state Labor Department’s Public Employee Safety and Health program and the Uniform Building Codes, enforced by the NYS Department of State’s Office of Fire Prevention and Control,” Rosen said. “You have to do a threat assessment, and learn how to handle various emergencies such as bomb threats. Now, we also have to worry about the mail and the potential contamination of anthrax and other biological threats. And there are violence, fire, explosions, and loss of water or other utilities,” he added. Rosen said it takes time to develop a written program. “You have to assign personnel and have a system in place to lead the effort to communicate and evacuate,” he said. Other considerations include where to assemble after an evacuation, how to account for people and how to meet the needs of the disabled. The final plan should be shared with the local fire department and other authorities. “We certainly want to prevent any of these emergencies from occurring. But if they happen, you need a plan in place. When you have a good plan, it can save lives,” Rosen said. A proposal to both the state and national AFL-CIO has also been sent expressing the need to revise the OSHA standard on emergency response. Other public employee unions are also excited about amending this standard, Rosen said. Y2K prompted plans According to PEF member Kevin Neary, a program representative for the state Emergency Response Com-mission’s “Working Group” at the NYS Emergency Management Office, emergency plans have been in place at state agencies and were updated over an 18-month period leading up to the transition to the new millennium, known as “Y2K.” “In addition to state agency planning, local communities were encouraged to do a risk analysis and then develop an emergency plan and procedures on how to respond in times of an emergency or disaster,” Neary said. Twenty-two state agencies are members of the New York Disaster Preparedness Commission, the governor’s policy-making body, which is charged with overseeing the preparation of state disaster plans, directing state disaster operations and coordinating them with local-government operations and coordinating federal, state and private recovery efforts. As part of this effort, agencies are required to develop plans based on the state’s comprehensive emergency-management plan. “The biggest effort on this was done for Y2K and those plans are still all-risk and all-hazard plans for each agency,” he said. Neary added that you would have to poll each agency to learn what plans they actually used. Improvement needed But other PEF members say more needs to be done. Gwendolyn Leverett, a tax auditor for the state Department of Tax and Finance, said improvements are definitely needed in emergency preparedness. She was standing outside the WTC on September 11 when the two planes struck. Leverett said she “narrowly escaped.” She had worked on the 86th floor of 2 World Trade Center and said emergency plans were put into effect by various outside agencies. “We had scheduled fire drills at least twice a year,” Leverett said. “They were organized by the fire and safety director of the World Trade Center, Mike Hurley. “The drills were very basic,” she added. “We went into the hallway, and employees received an orientation which included evacuation procedures citing emergency exits and use of the command phones.” As for a written plan, she said the NYC Port Authority had distributed emergency procedure handouts to WTC employees. Leverett hopes for full evacuation drills so employees will know where each stairwell will take them. “I always tell my people here, know your exits blindfolded,” she said. Rosen praised the rescue efforts that went into effect when the World Trade Center collapsed and said the Y2K plans were of great benefit. But the immediate concern is the readiness for any event at any location in the state, and for areas such as leased work sites. The Communicator Home Page

Emergency List Whether you work in a high-rise office building or a single-story facility, here are safety tips that could help you survive an emergency: — To report a fire or any other urgent safety threat — • Call 911 or local emergency services; • State your name, precise location and the type of emergency. — If you must evacuate — • Use common sense and try not to panic; • Follow the directions over the public-address system, or instructions from floor marshals; • Do not wait for your manager’s or supervisor’s permission to leave. If you feel you are in immediate danger, you have the right to leave; • End all phone calls; • Take your coat, keys, valuables and a flashlight with you, if they are readily available. Do not return to your office for them; • Use the nearest, safe emergency exit or stairwell. Merge alternately with employees evacuating lower floors to keep all lines moving; • Do not open a door if the knob is hot, or if you feel heat on the other side; • Do not use elevators, unless told to do so by emergency officials; • If you are disabled, tell someone you need assistance and trained personnel will evacuate you; • Keep conversation to a minimum; • Do not linger or carry beverages into stairwells; • Proceed to your designated assembly area and wait for further instructions.