As part of the process, sites are required to include all potential emergency scenarios and determine their consequence levels on the Baseline WRAC and review this on an annual basis. An issue-based WRAC and bowtie analysis can also be relevant tools that require regular review and updating. The environmental and social consequences should include direct and indirect impacts, based on credible impact scenarios. Guidance on applying the process to unwanted events with social consequences is included in Section 3C: Social and Human Rights Impacts and Risk Analysis.
Sites should identify appropriate control measures to prevent emergencies from occurring, and to prevent or minimize off-site impacts.
Typical control measures for an effective emergency response include capacity building of first responders (see Task 5), establishing community evacuation routes, putting in place off-site emergency communication systems, the deployment of early warning systems, etc. It can also include the provision of shelter and food in the event of an emergency occurring.
Measures aimed at reducing community vulnerability and increasing community resilience, in particular in relation to the type of off-site impacts expected as a result of a site-induced emergency, can also be appropriate and will help post-emergency recovery. This could include improving the condition of houses or other infrastructure in the impacted area, strengthening institutional capacity to respond to emergencies, building more resilient livelihoods, or improving community health. Such measures are projects and should follow the process outlined in Section 4A on Socio-Economic Development.
Measures to support community recovery in the medium and long-term, for example those aimed at rebuilding community infrastructure, are classified as projects and should follow the process outlined in Section 4A on Socio-Economic Development.
For each site-induced emergency that could have off-site impacts, the potential for loss of life in surrounding communities must be evaluated prior to any emergency. Should there be indications that it will likely not be possible to evacuate all individuals within necessary timescales in the event of an emergency and that this may lead to loss of life, then pre-emptive resettlement may be required. In this case, the process outlined in Section 4F on Land Access, Displacement, and Resettlement (LADAR) should be followed, and the triggers for pre-emptive resettlement should be included in the Land Access and Displacement Strategy ().
Site-induced emergencies that may result in permanent physical or economic displacement should be included in the site Land Access and Displacement Strategy (refer to Section 4F on Land Access, Displacement, and Resettlement – Task 3). See Section 4D Tool 4 for more information on the Displacement Framework for Emergencies that should be developed in advance of the emergency occurring.