Guidance on emergency response for onshore plants can be found in the Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) guidance document. Top-tier COMAH sites must have both an on-site and off-site emergency plans. For offshore structures, the guidance and approved code of practice to the Prevention of Fire and Explosion and Emergency Response on offshore installations (PFEER) regulations provides stakeholders with a clear description of measures that should be in place to deal with emergencies.
On offshore structures, all areas of a platform should be provided with a number of well marked and protected routes for escape in the event of a fire. The main escape route will normally be around the outside of the platform and should be as straight and level as possible; on large platforms, there will be parallel routes at different elevations. Considerations should be given to escape routes leading directly to the temporary safe refuge with by-passes to the lifeboat embarkation points.
Escape routes within modules must be chosen to enable people normally working in the area to escape onto a main route as directly as possible; alternative routes should also be provided each to a separate main route. Rapid escape for personnel must also be possible from areas not normally manned.
The routes from the temporary safe refuge to lifeboat embarkation points should also be clearly marked and well protected. The specification for the protection to all escape routes and embarkation points is again another significant aspect within the safety case.
Further guidance on emergency response, evacuation and rescue can be found in the following documents:
a) A guide to the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999, Health and Safety Executive, 1999
b) Prevention of Fire and Explosion and Emergency Response on offshore installations: Approved Code of Practice and Guidance, Health and Safety Commission, 1997