THE HUMAN ERROR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN BY GORDON DUPONT
An Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is usually one of the last steps an organization takes as part of its Safety Management System (SMS), yet in light of what was once jokingly called the “Mexican Beer Flu” (no longer the least bit funny), I have moved this article up on my SMS discussion list. Our son contracted the Coronavirus (COVID-19) at work. After being advised to self-isolate with only his dog for two days, he was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and is now on a respirator to help him breathe and live. We’ll discuss what went wrong later. So, who needs an ERP? The simple answer is every organization and EVERYBODY. ERP’s aren’t something new. I can remember more than 70 years ago having fire drills in school and my class having to meet under the basketball hoop where roll call was held. We were taught how important that was for us know what to do. Before credit cards, mom and dad always had a small savings tucked away for a “rainy day.” These were ERPs on a small scale and emulate the Boy Scout’s motto of “Be Prepared.” While the SMS regulations center
on risk management and may not require an ERP, I feel that, like Human Factors training, it is part of the “Big Picture” to increase Safety. More than one aviation company has ceased to exist for lack of an ERP. One that I recall was a small “Mom and Pop” company that performed scheduled flights from small Northern communities to larger hubs. One of its aircraft crashed in a swampy area with no survivors. It was one of those accidents that made you wish you had a desk job, as the insects ruled the land there. It was sort of like the Everglades without the alligators or any human
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life within 100 miles. The only way in or out was by a helicopter which couldn’t land. A S-61 was contracted to lift the destroyed aircraft out, but even it was pulling 100% torque just to lift it above the surface as it was full of water. The S-61 dragged the aircraft and finally it lightened enough to fly it to a road where we were able to inspect it. Long story short, it was a CFIT accident with both engines developing power up to point of impact. All occupants had drowned. “Mom and pop” were devistated, but when the press came looking for a story and cause, they were told in no uncertain terms to “F… Off.” What was even worse, the deceaseds’ belongings that were now drying out
in their storage were placed in boxes and shipped to the next of kin without being cleaned or sanitized. One wife, in particular, took exception to this and the press now had a story. The company soon ceased to exist. The owners even had to sell their home and leave town. Any aviation accident ERP must
have a detailed section on dealing with the media because, “if you don’t feed the monster, it will feed on you.” A useful ERP can not be a “cookie-
cutter” plan that you buy and just fill in the blanks. It should be developed by a team within the company that looks at all the risks a company could face that could jeopardize its existence. This could be a fatal accident, fire,
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