Guided by the list of potential PUEs on the site’s Baseline WRAC and in the Emergency Management Response Plan Specification (AATS-703-002), sites should identify site-induced emergencies that could have off-site impacts and determine the type and consequence level of such impacts.

Note that not all PUEs are emergency events, i.e. certain PUEs are not sudden, unexpected, or unplanned events that require immediate action. For example, displacement-related impacts on a community because of mine expansion, or community health impacts due to exposure to PM2.5 caused by hauling activities may be rated as Level 4 or 5, however these are not sudden, unexpected, or unplanned events and should not be managed through the Emergency Response Plan and associated procedures, but through a Resettlement Action Plan and a Community Health and Safety Management Plan instead.

Not all emergencies are site-induced emergencies that could impact on external stakeholders: for example, an explosion in an underground mine is considered an emergency, but it may not result in off-site impacts. See the flow diagram in Figure 1 on the application of the EMS and/or Social Way Section 4D, depending on the type of emergency.

Box 4D.4 Cross-functional Collaboration

In case of site-induced emergencies that may impact on communities, a cross-functional approach should be taken to plan, prepare and implement emergency management.

Input and collaboration is required from the Social Performance (including SED and LADAR as appropriate) and the environment team in the development of these emergency procedures and TARPs.

Information about the internal and external context should be used to inform this, including information about the natural environment (i.e. surface and groundwater, soil, air, etc.) of the impacted area, proximity to and dependencies of communities on the natural environment, the number and vulnerability (see Section 2 on Review and Planning) of external stakeholders potentially affected, livelihoods that could be affected, etc.

The type of impact should also be identified (e.g. physical harm, loss of livelihoods, chronic health issues, etc.). The type of impact can be direct or indirect; for example, a tailings storage facility failure can result in the pollution of waterbodies, which can contaminate drinking water and can have a negative impact on the livelihoods of local farmers and/or fishermen in the short-, medium- or long-term.

Box 4D.5 Climate Change Consideration

When identifying potential emergency scenarios, sites need to consider potential impacts of climate change, for example the changing frequency and severity of storm and flooding events, which may cause site-induced emergencies, exacerbate their consequences, and/or influence recovery efforts.

Direct and indirect impacts should be mapped using GIS to demonstrate the geographical extent of potential off-site impacts per emergency scenario. The geographical areas directly or indirectly impacted by a site-induced emergency should be included in the site’s Area of Influence (see Section 2 on Review and Planning).

Assessing the type and level of potential adverse off-site impacts of a site-induced emergency informs the response and recovery components of the EMP and its associated procedures (Task 7). This includes the technical, material, human and financial resources needed for emergency management (see Task 6) as well as measures to reduce community vulnerabilities and increase resilience.

For site-induced emergencies with a social consequence level of 3, 4, or 5, sites should implement all subsequent Tasks of Social Way Section 4D. The EMP and the TARP/emergency management procedure should include off-site emergency response and recovery measures accordingly.

For site-induced emergencies with a social consequence level of 1 or 2, there is no expectation for sites to implement the subsequent Tasks of Social Way Section 4D, and the EMP and the TARP/emergency management procedure does not have to include off-site emergency response and recovery measures. However, sites may deem it appropriate to engage with the potentially affected stakeholders to discuss the expected impacts and planned course of action. In the event of an emergency, sites should actively monitor the actual off-site impacts and take remedial action in case these become significant. This may include recovery efforts such as livelihood restoration, financial compensation, or other measures as appropriate and agreed with the affected communities. Following the incident investigation of the emergency event, sites should review the Baseline WRAC and update the likelihood, consequence types and rating(s), and controls as needed. If the social consequence is found to be level 3 or higher, the EMP should be updated to include off-site emergency response and recovery measures associated with that emergency.

Box 4D.6 Off-site traffic accidents and EMPs

A site’s activities typically rely heavily on the use of public roads. In such cases, sites have an important role and responsibility in preventing road accidents in order to protect external stakeholders as well as their own workers. This is particularly important where public infrastructure is of poor quality, where driver behaviours, regulations and enforcement of road safety rules are weak, and where there is inadequate public emergency response infrastructure to respond to traffic accidents.

Sites should implement driver and traffic safety programmes at site and in communities, proportional to risks and potential impacts. The site’s EMP should include a TARP/procedure for off-site traffic emergencies involving site vehicles in the Area of Influence. This requires an understanding of the main transport routes used, emergency response times, average timing and routes to primary care facilities, sensitive receptors (human, environment, and property) along the route(s), locations where serious accidents can and do occur, which types of accidents can and do occur, who and what could be affected, what damage could be caused, etc. This information could be obtained from local authorities who have information about the causal factors of accidents from their investigations, which can build a picture of the main hazards. Contingencies for emergency assistance to the driver and to third parties should be addressed in the procedure. Vehicles may need to be equipped with response tools, and drivers may require first aid training. The TARP/procedure should define which local authorities to interface with in case of an off-site traffic incident.