Disaster Management Plan (DMP)

Though risk of accidents are minimized by sound design and safe operations & maintenance practices, but it has been observed that even after taking all such precautions possibility of occurrence of an accident can not be fully eliminated in such installations. There are number of accident case histories, which insist to formulate a functional Disaster Management Plan (DMP). Therefore planning for mitigating the effects of an accident is essential.

Mitigation of sufferings due to an accident is achieved by implementing the DMP at the time of emergency. A DMP is prepared by incorporating the results of Risk Analysis study/Maximum Credible Accident (MCA) Analysis/Consequence Analysis, which includes identification of the credible accident scenarios and assessment of the consequences of such accidents. Accordingly the emergency operations, that would be implemented in the event of an emergency, are decided. The requisites for response to an emergency are that the response should be quick, adequate, well‑devised and properly supervised.

Disaster Management Plan should be prepared in such a way so that loss minimization, hazard control in the quickest possible time and mitigation of the sufferings of the people during a major accident could be achieved. However it is to be noted that Disaster Management Plan is just one aspect of achieving higher levels of safety, which can not be considered in isolation. In particular, it is not a substitute for maintaining good safety standards in plant operations.

Objectives of the study:

The disaster management plan has to be formulated with the broad objective of safeguarding human life and minimizing human suffering & property loss by localizing the emergency and to eliminate it as for as possible.  Elimination of impacts of a foreseeable accident requires prompt action by operators and emergency staff using, e.g., fire‑fighting equipment, shut‑off valves and water sprays. Minimizing the effects include rescue, first aid, evacuation, rehabilitation and giving information promptly to people in nearby area.

Scope of the Study :

	To examine the protection measures that are already incorporated and effectiveness of measures in respect of response times, resource mobilization, dispersion etc. and suggest corrective actions to be taken.
	To develop an effective On-site Disaster Management Plan so as to ensure safety by restricting a hazard to not to manifest into an accident. If, at all, a hazard realizes into an accident; to mitigate the consequences to minimum possible level.

	Identify  the hazards and assess the consequences by carrying out a Risk Analysis Study or MCA Analysis;
	Evolve guidelines for fire fighting for each perceived accident scenario and to formulate scope of activities for mock drill;
	Formulate and allocate the actions to be taken during an emergency by every member of the emergency team;
	Evolve procedure for reporting an emergency;
	To ensure adequacy of proper fire fighting equipments;
	Ensure quick and proper communication, inside as well as out side the plant during an emergency;
	Shutdown the Terminal operation & isolate storage tanks;
	Control the situation & contain extent of damage in order to save Terminal property & environment;
	Information to local authorities & associating with them to execute the emergency services and
	Ensure safety of the personnel engaged in control   measures and rescue of other plant personnel and to provide first aid & further treatment to the injured;
	Preserve records & relevant clues to investigate the causes so as to prevent recurrence of such events.