Proyectos Educativos de Centro

Ambi Pradiptha¹, Fatma Lestari²

1Student of Magister Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia

2 Occupational Health and Safety Department, Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia and Disaster Research & Response Centre, University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, Indonesia

Corresponding Author : [email protected]; [email protected]

Abstract

Among different types of occupancies, a commercial high rise building presents a greater challenge to emergency due to its complexity. This study aims to identify emergency response preparedness levels of employees based on knowledge. This study used cross-sectional with 25 participants using random sampling. The method used is interview to the employees. The result showed that 80% employees having good preparedness of emergency response because they have been given an explanation of it when safety induction. This significant correlation between knowledge to emergency response preparedness (p= 0,002; α = 0,005). It’s recommended to maintain and increase the employees emergency response preparedness. Management should be conduct training or simulation of emergency response for employee. Besides that, it is also necessary to be given periodic safety induction for all employees.

Keywords: Emergency Response Preparedness, Knowledge Level, High Rise Building

134 1. INTRODUCTION

The advent of high-rise buildings in the 19^th century marked the beginning of sophisticated human habitation borne out of the ever-increasing competing demands for limited space in cities. Couple with its ability to accommodate many operationos and people, high rise buildings/occupancies are the best alternative available to many municipal goverments in allocation of dwindling land sizes and spiraling prices experienced in many cities across the globe [1]. NFPA defines a highrise building as a building taller than than 75 ft (23 meters) in height measured from the lowest level of fire department vehicle access to the floor of the highest occupiable storey [2].

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are approximately 16,000 to 20,000 fires in high-rise buildings each year. This represents 2 to 4 percent of all building fires. These fires are associated with 80 to 90 civilian deaths, 800 to 900 injuries and $100 million to $200 million in direct property damage.

Most of these fires take place in apartment buildings [3]. Afterward,on August 28, has been fire breaks out in South Jakarta apartment block [4].

High-rise buildings present several unique challenges not found in traditional low-rise buildings; longer egress times and distance, evacuation strategies, fire department accessibility, smoke movement and fire control [5]. The management of building occupants within high-rise buildings is a primary concern during emergencies.

Emergencies such as fires, bomb scares and earthquake present special dangers for high-rise buildings. Disaster research studies have identified organized planning as the most important element in successfully aiding victims in high-rise buildings. Because most people responding to disasters involving high-rise buildings have not had prior experience with such disasters, there is a tendency to see the situation and the response it requires as unique. The large size of the building and the number of employees or tenants within the high-rise increase the building's vulnerability when disaster strikes and present special challenges for risk managers. A coordinated emergency-response plan that identifies potential risks and outlines the best response is perhaps the most important step risk managers can take to protect the occupants of

135 high-rises during emergencies [3]. Emergency managers acknowledge that information flow is imperative to the success of any program. However, lack of knowledge of the receiver’s access, interpretation, awareness, knowledge, and involvement indicates a failure of the system [6].

PT XYZ is the companies engaged in contractor oil and gas who has experience handle a great job related the field of business. PT XYZ located at high rise building area which occupies on floors 26 to 28 in Jakarta. Located at the high rise building which has the potential danger and risk, PT XYZ trying to protect the occupants of high-rises during emergencies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify emergency response preparedness levels of employees based on knowledge.

2. METHODS

This study was descriptive study with cross-sectional approach and samples of 25 participants that using random sampling. The study was conducted in PT XYZ between June and July 2014. The method used is face-to-face interview to the employee by questionnaires.

3. RESULTS

The result showed that employees who worked at PT XYZ majority (64%) is male with age 20-29 years old (64%) and workings for more than 3 years (48%). Many employees have never been participating in a training session (64%), but they have been following simulation of emergency situation (84%). Then, majority employees never had an earthquake disaster or fire incident (92%) and 8% respondents had experienced earthquake disaster. The employees knowledge levels in this study showed they have a good knowledge of emergency response preparedness (68%). Afterward, it also showed that the employees preparedness levels to face an emergency response were good (80%).

136 Table 1. Characteristicsof Respondents and Emergency Preparedness Outcomes (n=25)

Variables Frekuensi (f) Persentase (%)

Gender

Majority the employees with good emergency response preparedness levels on good knowledge levels (62, 5%), be compared with employees with has a lack of knowledge (37, 5%). The statistical test between the level of knowledge to emergency response preparedness on employees in PT XYZ obtained p-value = 0,002 (p < 0,005), this was significant correlation between the employees knowledge levels to emergency response preparedness. Then, employees with a good knowledge have good preparedness 2,667 times higher in the face to emergency than employees with a lack of knowledge.

137

The difference in the level of knowledge about emergency response preparedness among the employees were influenced by several factors, which are internal and external factors. The internal factors covering educations, intelligence, jobs and age.

And the external factors covering the environment, socio-cultural, information and experienced. But, it does not mean the other factors doesn’t affect for the respondents knowledge levels. The another factor causing the difference of perception, assessment, response and the communication pattern on information about emergency response preparedness. These factors causes a different knowledge levels to emergency response preparedness.

There significant correlation between employees knowledge levels to emergency response preparedness. The employees with a good knowledge has good preparedness 2,667 times higher in the face to emergency than respondents with a lack of knowledge. Supported by Tanaka in Pangesti researched about preparedness and mitigation of earthquake among 361 respondents in Fukui and 190 respondents in San Fransisco. The result of the study explained that community located within the disaster prone tending to be able to apply of preparedness in their life. People who living in an area that prone to earthquakes as West Sumatra will have a better knowledge and positive attitudes about earthquake [7]. Level of emergency response preparaedness has also been found in studies undertaken elsewhere in Indonesia.

FEMA reported that 57% of US citizens have emergency supplies prepared and ready

138 to be used solely in the case of disaster [8]. The Chines population have a much lower level of emergency preparedness (<5%) compared with US populations. Poor knowledge and attitudes towards emergency response preparedness are the major factors that have contributed to the low level of community preparedness outcomes.

Effective education and exercise can help community residents recognise and identify hazards to improve their understanding about how to respond [9].

5. CONCLUSIONS

The level of emergency response preparedness in PT XYZ is good (80%), which is linked with a good knowledge towards emergency preparedness. The statistical showed that knowledge level to emergency response preparedness of the employee in PT XYZ obtained p-value = 0,002 (p <0,005). There was significant correlation between knowledge level to emergency response preparedness among the employees.

Furthermore, the employee with a good knowledge has preparedness 2.667 times higher in the face to emergency than employee with lack of knowledge.

A variety of strategies should be taken to maintain and increase employee emergency response preparedness, including emergency training and exercise, simulation, and emergency day event for publicising purpose. In addition, the safety induction should not only be done when a new person is accepted as an employee or when the employee is transferred to a branch office, but it is better to do it periodically, once every year for example, to ensure that employees keep in mind the importance of preparedness in the face to emergency.

139 References

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[4] Fire breaks out in South Jakarta apartment block. The Jakarta Post. 2017;

[5] High Rise Buildings: A Unique Emergency Response Challenge. D4H. 2017.

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[7] Pangesti ADH. Gambaran Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Aplikasi Kesiapan Bencana Pada Mahasiswa Fakultas Ilmu Keperawatan Universitas Indonesia. Universitas Indonesia; 2012.

[8] FEMA. National Preparedness Report. 2013.

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