This presentation addresses the various emergency response scenarios and critical information you need to know when preparing for an ER. You will learn about fascinating ER calls, worst case versus best case and get lessons learned so you are fully prepared should an incident occur.

1. Emergency Response Preparedness
Triumvirate Environmental presents:
What To Do While Waiting For Responders

2. During this Webinar
All lines will be muted.
Communicate via the questions tab in your
webinar panel.
Unanswered questions will be responded to
after the webinar.
Webinar recording and slides will be emailed to
you tomorrow.

3. Meet Your Presenter
Kevin Coulon
Regional Services Director &
Emergency Response Manager
kcoulon@triumvirate.com
• BS in Georgraphy
• Started with Triumvirate in 2005
• Previously – Environmental Specialist,
Operations Specialist, and Branch
Manager

4. Agenda
Scenarios
Critical Information
Fascinating ER Calls
Ways to Prepare
Worse Case vs Best Case
Questions

5. Scenarios
Chemical
Overflow
Confined Space
Mercury

6. Chemical
Unstable chemicals found
during moves or clean outs
Gas cylinder
Chemical spill in the lab
setting
Odor Problem (Unknown)
Spills during chemical
delivery

7. Overflow Scenarios
Water/sewer line
breakage
Generator/diesel
overflow to soil
Treatment tanks
overflowing

8. Confined Space Response
Hydraulic oil
released into
elevator shaft (CSE)
Hydraulic oil
released into catch
basin
Treatment tanks

9. Mercury
Mercury
Barometer
Mercury
Thermometer
Amalgam
Filters

10. Agenda
Scenarios
Critical Information
Fascinating ER Calls
Ways to Prepare
Worse Case vs Best Case
Questions

11. Critical Information
The Where
The What
The Who
The When
The How

12. Behavioral Incidents
Note: The majority of the
incidents we respond to are
at night, during the weekend,
early Monday morning,
holidays, or late in the day on
Friday.

13. Critical Information to Provide to
Responding Contractor
• Recognize this information exchange will
shape the emergency contractors decisions
(people/equipment)
• This will also help your contractor with providing
recommendations as next step while waiting for
responder
• Your name and phone number of the person
who will be onsite
• The chemical(s) involved, and whether
MSDS’s are available.
• The site address, building number/name,
room number, or area that has the problem.

14. Critical Information to Provide to
Responding Contractor (Cont.)
• Has there been a release to the environment or is it
contained within the building?
• If released to environment, define the media affected (soil,
groundwater, surface water, concrete, asphalt, etc.)
• If released down a drain, define where the drain goes
(treatment system, direct to sewer, etc.)
• The quantity released – can cause worse case
• Helpful tip – There are 7.48 gallons per cubic foot
• Cause of release

15. • What other agencies have
been contacted?
• What actions have you
taken prior to making the
call?
• Your expectations for
cleanup.
Critical Information to Provide to
Responding Contractor (Cont.)

16. Agenda
Scenarios
Critical Information
Fascinating ER Calls
Ways to Prepare
Worse Case vs Best Case
Questions

17. Fascinating ER Statements
• If I call in a spill smaller than it really is, I will be charged less?
• Information? I don’t have time right now to get you more information. Just get
here now!
• I will not be there but knock on the door and someone there will let you in
• Can you give me a quote before dispatching the response crew?
• Please call me back at XXX-XXX-XXXX. “The number you have
dialed is disconnected”
• “This is Joe. I have a spill call me.”
• I don’t know what it is or how much of it spilled, but I need it cleaned up in 1
hour.
• I realize it is midnight, but can you have a crew here in five minutes?

18. Fascinating ER Statements (Cont.)
• I need you to clean out the
elevator shaft. Secured? Locked
Out? You are the response
company, you’re supposed to
know that information
• There is a funny smell coming
from this room. I only need one
person to come help me figure it
out
• I’ll take care of the spill. What do
you mean training? Emergencies
don’t require training.

19. Agenda
Scenarios
Critical Information
Fascinating ER Calls
Ways to Prepare
Worse Case vs Best Case
Questions

20. • Understand your potential scenarios
• Walk around with key staff
and/or contractor(s)
• Assess chemical storage
practices
• Update your chemical inventory
• Track energetic or highly
hazardous materials
• Assess treatment tanks
• Identify high risk areas for spills
• Update contingency plans
Ways to Prepare for Hazardous
Material Incidents

21. • Training!
• Review observations from the survey
• Talk about worst case scenarios
• Conduct mock drills
• Test your on-call system
• Limit who can make the call for outside help
• Make sure they are knowledgeable
• Make sure the are able to make
decisions needed to clean up the spill
Ways to Prepare for Hazardous
Material Incidents (Cont.)

22. • Make sure you know when outside contractors will be on site and what they will be
working on
• Ask for an ETA and for updates if the time changes
• How clean do you want the area (only remove the hazard, full decon, etc)
• Prepare a simplified ER binder
• Copy of your internal communication plan
• Phone numbers & pagers for key staff
• Phone numbers for outside contractors
• Site map
• Information on your most dangerous materials
Ways to Prepare for Hazardous
Material Incidents (Cont.)

23. Agenda
Scenarios
Critical Information
Fascinating ER Calls
Ways to Prepare
Worse Case vs Best Case
Questions

24. Worst Case Scenario vs.
Best Case Scenario
Usually comes down to the
following:
• Remaining calm
• Ensure your staff is safe
• Accurate information is gathered
by the individual(s) involved with
the spill
• Excellent information exchange
• A well-prepared staff

25. Agenda
Scenarios
Critical Information
Fascinating ER Calls
Ways to Prepare
Worse Case vs Best Case
Questions

26. QUESTIONS?

27. Thank You For Attending!
• You will receive an email
tomorrow with a copy of
this presentation
• Please complete our
short survey
• Expect a special offer in
the coming days