514 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 30-37

Sections

37-8. General Requirements.

Emergency Operations Guidelines

All requirements from other chapters of this manual apply to emergency operations unless stated otherwise.

SOH Requirements

Implementing SOH requirements during emergency operations is crucial due to the increased risk and limited resources.
SOHOs must ensure SOH concerns, including hazard and risk analysis, are addressed in emergency management planning.
Include SOH program requirements in all government and contract operations, including the FAR clause CFR 52.236-13.

Staffing for SOH

Temporarily staff the SOHO with additional safety, industrial hygiene, and medical personnel as necessary.
If a Recovery Field Office (RFO) is established, use SOH planning and response teams for staffing. If no RFO, the Geographic District must establish a dedicated emergency operations SOHO.
Each Emergency Field Office must have at least one SOH professional.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Minimum PPE requirements for fieldwork include a short sleeve shirt, long pants, and protective footwear meeting ASTM F2413 standards.
Personnel in debris collection/reduction areas must also wear a hard hat, safety glasses, Class II high-visibility vest, and have hearing protection available.
Additional necessary PPE must be provided at the emergency operations site as per the site-specific AHA.

Communications

Use two-way radios, cellular phones, and computers to enhance communication.
Communicate SOH program documents and safety information in a language understandable to employees and the public.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

37-6. Each USACE Emergency Field Office must have _____.

responding team commander

two or more SHM professionals

at least one SOH professional

an SOH, IH, and SSHO

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 37-8 (a.–e.).

37-8. General Requirements. (a.–e.).

a.  All applicable requirements identified in other chapters of this manual are still applicable to emergency operations missions unless otherwise stated in this chapter. (37-8.a)

b.  SOH Requirements.  During emergency operations, it is extremely important to implement the SOH requirements.  Personnel often perform unusual, difficult, or hazardous tasks while in a challenging environment, and these conditions may increase risk and the potential for accidents.  Additionally, resources are in short supply, and the loss of any resource to an accident reduces the USACE ability to respond.  (37-8.b)

(1)  The SOH of USACE employees, contractors, and members of the public exposed to USACE activities is a primary concern during all USACE emergency
    operations. SOHOs must provide the necessary input to their emergency management counterparts to ensure planning for SOH concerns, including hazard and risk analysis, is addressed prior to and during emergency operations.

(2)  Contract Requirements.  Include SOH program requirements in all Government and contract operations.  Include FAR clause CFR 52.236-13 in contracts and memoranda of agreement/understanding for emergency operations and recovery assistance.

c.  Staffing.  Temporarily staff the SOHO in the Geographic District experiencing the disaster with additional safety, industrial hygiene, and medical personnel, as necessary to ensure a comprehensive SOH program is administered for all emergency operations. If a Recovery Field Office (RFO) is established, SOH staffing is usually accomplished by use of SOH functional planning and response team.  If a RFO is not established, the Geographic District must establish an emergency operations SOHO (minimum staffing to include a safety manager) dedicated totally to emergency operations. Also, each Emergency Field Office must have a minimum of one SOH professional.  (37-8.c)

d.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (Minimum Requirements for Field Work). For fieldwork (for example, construction sites, industrial operations and maintenance activities, emergency operations, regulatory inspections), minimum requirements
include the following:  (37-8.d)

(1)  Short sleeve shirt.

(2)  Long pants (excessively long or baggy pants are prohibited).

(3)  Protective footwear meeting ASTM F2413 standards.

(4)  All personnel working in debris collection/reduction areas must also wear hard hat, safety glasses, Class II (minimum) high-visibility vest, and have hearing protection available.

Note. Additional PPE that may be necessary must be provided at the emergency operations site and addressed in the site-specific AHA (see chapter 5).

e.  Communications. (37-8.e)

(1)  Use two-way radios, cellular phones, and computers, as needed, to establish and enhance communications.

(2)  Communicate SOH program documents, signs, tags, instructions, etc., to employees and the public in a language they understand.