A Comprehensive Guide to Emergency Response Plans (ERP) Under the CDM 2024 

A Comprehensive Guide to Emergency Response Plans (ERP) Under the CDM 2024 Regulations

If you are managing a construction site under the new Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Work) (Design and Management) Regulations 2024 (CDM 2024), having a robust Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is not just a best practice , it is a strict legal requirement.

Here is a detailed breakdown of what an Emergency Response Plan entails under the CDM 2024 regulations, perfect for shaping your safety management strategy.

The Core Requirement

Under Regulation 32 of CDM 2024, it is the direct responsibility of the construction work contractor to provide, maintain, and implement suitable arrangements to deal with any foreseeable emergency. This means that before a crisis hits, there must be a clear, actionable plan in place that includes procedures for the safe evacuation of the site or any part of it.

What Must Be Considered When Drafting the Plan?

Every construction site is unique, so a one-size-fits-all ERP will not work. According to the regulations, the contractor must evaluate the following specific factors when developing the emergency arrangements:

• Site Use and Size: The type of work being carried out, the physical characteristics and size of the site, and the specific locations of workspaces.

• On-Site Population: The maximum number of people (workers, management, and visitors) likely to be present on the site at any one time.

• Equipment and Materials: The types of heavy plant or machinery being used, as well as the physical and chemical properties of any potentially hazardous substances or materials stored on-site.

Key Components of a Compliant ERP

To satisfy both the CDM 2024 regulations and standard Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 evaluations, your ERP should feature the following detailed elements:

1. Explicit Emergency Procedures

You must have documented, step-by-step procedures for various emergency scenarios, including fires, chemical spills, structure collapse, flood ,general evacuations,etc.

2. Emergency Routes and Exits (Regulation 33)

The site must have a sufficient number of suitable emergency routes and exits so that anyone can reach a place of safety quickly. 

These routes must:

Lead as directly as possible to an identified safe assembly area.

Be clearly indicated by suitable signage and physically drawn out on a map displayed on-site.

Be kept clear and entirely free from obstruction at all times.

Be equipped with emergency lighting that can be used at any time, especially if the route could expose workers to hazards in the dark.

3. Fire Detection and Protection (Regulation 34) 

Suitable and sufficient fire-fighting equipment, along with fire detection and alarm systems, must be provided. These must be located at appropriate, easily accessible spots and marked with clear signs.

4. Emergency Response Team (ERT) and First Aid 

Your site should have an official Emergency Response Team, and their organizational chart must be visibly displayed. Additionally, if you employ 20 or more workers, you must appoint certified First-Aiders who have successfully completed competency training. Fully stocked and unexpired first aid boxes must also be readily available.

5. Emergency Contacts and Assembly Points

A designated, safe "Assembly Point" (Tempat Berkumpul) must be clearly marked. In prominent locations, you must also display a list of crucial emergency contact numbers, including the Fire Department (BOMBA), Police, and nearby Hospitals.

Implementation, Testing, and Drills

A written plan is useless if no one knows how to execute it. CDM 2024 explicitly requires the construction work contractor to take suitable steps to ensure that every single person on site is familiar with the emergency arrangements.

Furthermore, these arrangements must be actively tested at suitable intervals. Contractors must conduct and keep records of emergency drills (such as fire drills), first aid training, and training on the proper use of emergency equipment to prove that the workforce is ready to act if a real emergency occurs.