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8 100-BZM-01-IGDO ©2025, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | WSPS.CA • Lightning and electrical storms • Heavy rain • Hail • Extreme wind events • Tornadoes and hurricanes • Train staff on inclement weather plan, and steps to minimize risk of injury (ex: avoid standing under trees, avoid standing in water during electrical storms). Emergency Response • Should hazardous weather approach, activate your inclement weather plan. • Once the event is over, debrief, evaluate the effectiveness of the plan, and make adjustments for future weather events. Resources • Lifesaving Society: Extreme Weather Lightning Standard 8. Critical Incident Stress Hazards Prevention Tips Critical incident stress (CIS) refers to the normal, albeit intense, physical, psychological, and behavioural reactions individuals may experience after being involved in or witnessing a traumatic critical event. Critical incident stress may present immediately after the event, or in the days, weeks, or months after. CIS may be short-term or may develop into long-term illness including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychiatric condition that that may occur after a traumatic event or series of events and causes significant distress or problems in daily functioning lasting one month or longer. Main contributing factors of critical incident stress in waterfront environments include: • Rescues and major incidents that put a life in jeopardy • Performing CPR or other resuscitation techniques Training • Train rescue and first aid staff on critical incident stress, critical incident stress management techniques, and what to expect after a critical incident. • Include critical incident stress and available resources in an employee handbook. • Train staff on signs and symptoms that they or a colleague may be struggling to cope with after a major event. • Provide mental health first aid and critical incident support training to supervisors supporting teams and debriefing with staff so they are prepared to guide the discussion. • Be clear that being affected by critical incident stress is a normal reaction to an abnormal event, not a personal failing or sign of weakness. Plan for Effective Debriefing • Develop a written debriefing plan you can implement without having to come up with one on the fly immediately following a stressful event. • Consider waiting at least one hour before debriefing. It will take staff time to digest the events of a major incident. • Debriefing should focus on 6 questions: What was the event? What did and did not work well in your emergency response plan? What could we improve for the future? What emotional responses are you feeling? And what additional resources are available for ongoing support, such as an employee assistance program or peer support. • Focus on system factors rather than individual errors, if any existed. Practice • Practice debriefing by making debriefing a regular part of your in-service routine. Choose one scenario per in-service to complete a debrief. This gives management performing the debrief practice and helps prepare staff for what to expect should a major incident occur.

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