business emergency action plan

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Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool

Evacuation plans and procedures » emergency action plan.

An emergency action plan (EAP) is a written document required by particular OSHA standards. [ 29 CFR 1910.38(a) ] The purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. Well developed emergency plans and proper employee training (such that employees understand their roles and responsibilities within the plan) will result in fewer and less severe employee injuries and less structural damage to the facility during emergencies. A poorly prepared plan, likely will lead to a disorganized evacuation or emergency response, resulting in confusion, injury, and property damage.

Minimum Requirements

Putting together a comprehensive emergency action plan that deals with those issues specific to your worksite is not difficult. It involves taking what was learned from your workplace evaluation and describing how employees will respond to different types of emergencies, taking into account your specific worksite layout, structural features, and emergency systems.

Develop & Implement an EAP

Drafting an emergency action plan (EAP) is not enough to ensure the safety of your employees. When an evacuation is necessary, you will need responsible, trained individuals who can supervise and coordinate activities to ensure a safe and successful evacuation.

Evacuation Elements

A disorganized evacuation can result in confusion, injury, and property damage.

Fight or Flee?

A fire is the most common type of emergency for which small businesses must plan. Evacuation plans that designate or require some or all of the employees to fight fires with portable fire extinguishers increase the level of complexity of the plan and the level of training that must be provided employees.

Shelter-in-Place

Chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants may be released into the environment in such quantity and/or proximity to a place of business that it is safer to remain indoors rather than to evacuate employees.

Fire, Rescue, Medical Services

Although most of us quickly move away from the hazardous environments created during emergency situations, a group of dedicated and well-trained professional emergency responders and medical service personnel are tasked with containing and mitigating these incidents, rescuing individuals at-risk, and providing medical assistance to the injured.

Reporting Emergencies

Employees must know how to report emergencies. Some use internal telephone numbers, intercom, or public address systems to notify other employees. It is important for employees to also notify the proper authorities such as fire, medical, or rescue services, if your company relies on this type of assistance during an emergency.

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Developing an Emergency Action Plan

Posted by West Bend Staff on Oct 13, 2020 2:30:05 PM

What is an Emergency Action Plan?

An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a written procedure detailing the appropriate response to various types of emergencies. An EAP is an essential component of an organization’s safety procedures. Creating an EAP and training employees on how to follow it can greatly reduce employee injuries, property damage, and can ensure the safety of visitors in the event of an emergency.   OSHA has a helpful tool   to walk organizations through the process of creating an EAP. 

What Emergencies Require an Emergency Action Plan?

It is also important to recognize that some emergency responses will have radically different recommendations than others.   Fires   and   tornadoes , for example, have two very different requirements. During a fire evacuation the main objective is to get   out   of the building as quickly as possible, while during a tornado the goal is to get everyone   inside   the building. Sometimes it will be even more complicated, like during an   active shooter emergency , where hiding within the building may be the best option for some and evacuating may be the best option for others.

Key components of an Emergency Action Plan

No two EAPs will be identical. Building layouts, hours of operation, personnel qualifications and more will have an impact on the particulars of an EAP. There are, however, certain universal components that should be included in most EAPs, including:

• Evacuation procedures, escape routes and floor plans
• Reporting and alerting authorities
• Alerting staff and visitors of an emergency
• Accounting for people after implementing an EAP
• Notifying parents, guardians or next of kin
• Identifying a media contact person
• Training new staff
• Policies for updating and maintaining the EAP

We’ve broken some of the components into three distinct sections: considerations for emergencies that start or occur within the building, emergencies that occur outside of the building, and emergencies that come about from a health-related scare. Here are a few examples for each category for your reference:

• Emergencies Within the Building:   fire, active shooter, power outage, etc.
• Emergencies Outside of the Building:   tornado, lightning, extreme heat, etc.
• Health-Related Emergencies:   heart attacks, seizures, drownings, concussions, etc.

Evacuation Procedures, Escape Routes, and Floor Plans

In the event of an emergency, people need to respond quickly; knowing where to go and how to get there is often an important part of a quick response. Depending on the type of emergency, people will either need to exit the building as quickly as possible or be prepared to navigate to a safer part of the building. It is important each person knows exactly where to go in the event of an emergency.

Current floor plans are an integral part of every written EAP . Regardless of the emergency, an EAP should contain an up-to-date floor plan for the entire property. The floor plan should include clearly marked evacuation routes and all emergency exits should be easily identifiable. Remember, this information isn’t only posted for the good of employees; guests, including emergency personnel, will rely on this information to navigate the building safely.

• Emergencies Outside of the Building —   In most cases, when an emergency starts outside of the building, the safest thing to do is find a safe place within the building. Most often, emergencies outside of the building will be weather-related or natural disasters like a tornado, earthquake or lightning storm. These events provide different levels of warning before they strike, so it’s important to be prepared to respond to the emergency quickly.
• Emergencies Within the Building —   For emergencies occurring inside of the facility (e.g., fires, power outages, etc.), the main goal is to get everyone out of harms way. To achieve this goal, staff should be aware of the fastest and safest way out of the building. It will also be necessary to ensure that evacuation procedures are easily accessible to customers or visitors inside of the building. Having a broad understanding of the layout of a building can help staff prepare for unanticipated detours along the most common emergency exits.
• Health Emergencies —   If someone inside of the building is injured or harmed in some way, an EAP should be initiated quickly. Staff should be prepared to respond to a wide range of plausible health scares such as a heart attack, seizure, possible drowning and more. Depending on the emergency, local emergency medical services may be contacted. Be sure that these authorities will have easy access to the injured person and they’ll be able to exit the building quickly when it is time to do so.

Reporting and Alerting Authorities

Most emergencies will require the involvement of police, fire and rescue, and medical professionals. Contacting these authorities is usually as easy as dialing 9-1-1. With that said, it’s important that someone in the organization be designated to make that call. There’s nothing worse than a delayed response because everyone assumed someone else contacted authorities.

It’s important to note that some emergencies will require specialized emergency responders. For instance, a chemical spill will need the services of specialized Hazardous Materials unit and downed power lines or utilities issues will require the work of the utility company. Make sure the Emergency Action Plan contains all the emergency numbers and contact information that may be needed.

Alerting Staff and Visitors of an Emergency

In addition to alerting the proper authorities, it is equally important to communicate to all staff and guests that an emergency is occurring. The exact method of communication will vary based on the size and design of the facility and the type of emergency.

For example, in the event of a fire, the best way to alert everyone is to simply pull the fire alarm. For other emergencies an intercom system might be the most effective method. Some alert systems can be as simple as blowing a whistle (i.e., aquatic EAPs) or ringing a bell.

• Health Emergencies   — It is important to note, however, that   certain emergencies do not require alerting everyone   within a building. For instance, if an individual suffers a medical emergency like a stroke or heart attack, there is no need to make everyone in the entire facility aware. The EAP for these types of emergencies will be much simpler and involve immediately contacting medical help and identifying individuals within your organization trained in First Aid to help stabilize the victim.

Accounting for Everyone after Implementing an EAP

After initiating and executing an EAP, the next step is to regroup. It will be important to identify if anyone was lost or injured during the process. For larger organizations, this is best accomplished by breaking up into manageable groups. In most cases these groups are based on departments or specific physical areas within the facility, but can be organized any way that makes sense for your organization.

Accounting for everyone after an emergency can be as easy as keeping a printed roster and asking people to check in when they’re in a safe location. It is also recommended to have each group meet in a designated area to make it easier to check each person in.

• Emergencies Outside of the Building   — Hiding in a secured area is an appropriate response to emergencies that begin outside of the building like tornadoes or lightning storms. Violent emergencies like   active shooter scenarios   are also an appropriate time to hide. Note that these instances will make the task of locating everyone a challenge. Keeping detailed records can help alleviate some of the trouble, however.

Notifying Parents, Guardians, or Next of Kin

After an EAP has been activated it may be necessary to notify parents, guardians or next of kin for the people involved. Depending on the situation, family members may need to be alerted immediately to provide information or come and pick their children up. A good EAP will detail who is responsible for alerting family members, what emergencies require alerting families, and what information should be relayed. It is also important to maintain up-to-date contact information for all members.

Identifying a Media Contact Person

Depending on the type and severity of the emergency, there’s a possibility that a member of the media will contact your organization seeking information. When dealing with the media it is important to have a single individual identified as the media contact person. Instruct all staff within your organization to direct any inquires from both the media and the public to them. This individual should be well trained on how to respond properly to sensitive questioning and should know what information is and is not acceptable to divulge.

Training New Staff

Since emergencies can occur anytime without warning, it is essential to develop a policy to train all new staff on the various EAPs and their role within the EAP. As part of new employee training/orientation, give all new staff a copy of the EAPs and provide them a layout of the facility along with where all the emergency exits and escape routes are.

New staff should be provided with important locations in the event of specific emergencies, such as where to take shelter in the event of a tornado. Identify multiple emergency exits since certain emergencies may make the closest exit inaccessible. If there is a chemical spill, for instance, staff should be trained to avoid exits near the area and find another way to evacuate the building.

Policies for Updating and Maintaining the EAP

Change is constant. Keeping all EAPs current is a major undertaking, but is the only way to assure an efficient emergency response. EAPs should be reviewed and revised annually or more frequently as needed. Changes should be listed on the document. New hires, building redesigns, new programs, office changes, remodeling, and much more can all impact the effectiveness of an EAP.  

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Being Prepared for an Emergency in the Workplace

Written by Staff Writer

Emergencies can happen at any time. The most effective way to handle a crisis situation is to prepare in advance by creating an Emergency Action Plan. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) even requires written Emergency Action Plans for many businesses, and specific businesses have additional regulations due to their part in the country's infrastructure or their handling of hazardous materials. Beyond that, there are many reasons for having a solid preparedness program.

Emergency Action Plan — Why Should You Have One?

The main reason to have an emergency action plan is to do as much as possible to keep your employees safe in case of disaster. The confusion of an emergency can make a bad situation worse and put lives at risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides more reasons an emergency action plan is important from a purely business perspective.

• Up to 40% of businesses affected by a natural or human-caused disaster never reopen. Having procedures in place to deal with disasters can help your business survive this difficult experience.
• Customers may not understand the disaster and its effects on your business. They'll still expect products or service on time. If there's a significant delay, they may take their business to a competitor.
• Even if a disaster does slow or shut down your business, a robust emergency action plan has procedures in place to contact customers and stakeholders quickly to keep them up to date on what has happened. News travels fast and perceptions are often different from reality. Staying on top of the information stream reduces negative perception.
• Insurance often only provides partial assistance. It does not cover all losses and does not bring back lost customers.
• Public agencies cannot be expected to provide total relief either. Many disasters can overwhelm their resources, meaning aid may not be immediate even when it is available.
• Many large businesses are now expecting their suppliers to have preparations in place for emergencies, trying to make sure their own business will not be hurt if something happens to another company on the supply chain. Without a plan in place, your business could be given to a competitor.

How to Get Started

The best time to handle an emergency is before it ever takes place . Before you create your emergency action plan, you'll need to analyze your business and see what potential hazards you face. These can vary depending on the type of business and your location. Some emergency action plans will cover problems dealing with hazardous materials on hand, some will need to deal with issues stemming from older buildings that were built to a lower-standard safety code, and some will need to have strategies in place to prepare for natural disasters more likely in certain areas, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes.

While many things will be different depending on the type of emergency you are preparing for — what you do during a tornado or earthquake will be much different than what you do during a fire or workplace violence incident, for example — some of the basic preparations will be similar for multiple problems. Always provide steps for getting people to safety, whether that means sheltering or evacuating them, and always have a clear and effective plan for communicating with everyone who could be affected.

Be sure to investigate not just what hazards you may face and how to stay safe during them, but also what effects they will have afterward. This should reveal such considerations as what lost income and increased expenses could be caused by your business being shut down for various amounts of time, the effect of lost customers, the delay of new business plans, and other effects of a disruption of service. Be as exact as possible in order to get a good idea of what costs you might accrue so you can most accurately plan for a disaster.

FEMA provides a Business Impact Analysis Worksheet you can distribute to management and any other employees you feel can contribute to your preparations. Download the worksheet here: http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/BusinessImpactAnalysis_Worksheet.pdf

Create Your Emergency Action Plan

Once you have identified all of the possible threats you may face and the potential effects, you should come up with responses for the hazards. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• For emergency situations, have an individual in charge of following and getting others to follow the procedures you outline. For larger companies, you may need more than one, in separate departments or as backups, but in this case make sure the hierarchy is clearly laid out. Employees must know this individual is in charge and has authority during an emergency.
• Ensure the methods for reporting fires and other emergencies are clear, whether it's dialing 911, calling an internal emergency number, pulling a manual fire alarm, or other procedure which may change depending on the type of emergency.
• Create evacuation policies and paths that are clear and easy to follow.
• Have procedures in place for employees who must remain during the beginning of an evacuation to take care of greater hazards. This includes employees who must use fire extinguishers, shut down gas lines and/or electrical systems, or safeguard hazardous materials to keep a bad situation from getting worse.
• Be prepared for the loss of computer hardware, software, and information related to technological disruptions, and find ways to back up and recover it.
• Note who is able to perform medical care, from first aid to CPR, and make sure they are in the proper positions to do so.
• Provide clear communication during and immediately after any dangerous incident.

OSHA has several resources to help you prepare your emergency action plan.

• Use the Emergency Action Plan Expert System to help you create your plan: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/expertsystem/default.htm
• Check to make sure your plan and equipment meets OSHA's standards: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/evaluate.html
• Ensure your plan is robust using OSHA's Emergency Action Plan Checklist: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/docs/eap_checklist.pdf

Once Your Plan Is Complete

Your emergency action plan provides no benefit if it is simply filed away . It needs to be shared with the entire company for several reasons.

• Every employee needs to know the plan so they can follow it in case of an emergency.
• Company leadership needs to provide whatever resources are necessary to follow it.
• It needs to be subject to review so improvements can be made on an ongoing basis.
• Training needs to be provided. Just as physical exercise allows you to perform physical tasks with less effort, emergency procedure exercises
• allow the workforce to follow the plan in an actual emergency quickly and efficiently at a time when every second counts.

Continue Monitoring and Improving

This training also tests the plan itself. The individual or committee in charge of emergency response should monitor the training to see where problems might be present that were not obvious during the planning phases.

For instance, fire alarms that were intended to alert everyone to danger might not be noticeable in some parts of the building with loud equipment running. Your emergency action plan should be reviewed often and updated accordingly as situations change.

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Emergency Response Plan

The actions taken in the initial minutes of an emergency are critical. Prompt action and warnings can save lives, minimize physical damage to structures and property, and allow for better resilience. Every business should develop and implement an emergency plan for protecting employees, contractors and visitors.

Developing an Emergency Plan

Developing an emergency plan begins with an understanding of what can happen. Consider the following actions when reviewing your risk assessment and considering the performance objectives that you established for your program.

• Assess what resources are available for incident stabilization. Consider  internal resources and external resources , including public emergency services and contractors.
• Document available resources. Determine whether external resources have the information they would need to handle an emergency. If not, determine what information is required and be sure to document that information in your plan.
• Prepare emergency procedures for foreseeable hazards and threats.

Plans should define the most appropriate protective action for each hazard to ensure the safety of employees and others within the building.

• Determine how you will warn building occupants to take protective action.
• Develop protocols and procedures to alert first responders including public emergency services, trained employees and management.
• Identify how you will  communicate with management and employees  during and following an emergency.

10 Steps for Developing the Emergency Response Plan

• Review performance objectives for the program.
• Review hazard or threat scenarios identified during the  risk assessment .
• Assess the availability and capabilities of  resources  for incident stabilization including people, systems and equipment available within your business and from external sources.
• Talk with public emergency services (e.g., fire, police and emergency medical services) to determine their response time to your facility, knowledge of your facility and its hazards and their capabilities to stabilize an emergency at your facility.
• Determine if there are any regulations pertaining to emergency planning at your facility; address applicable regulations in the plan.
• Develop protective actions for life safety (evacuation, shelter, shelter-in-place, lockdown).
• Develop hazard and threat-specific emergency procedures using the  Emergency Response Plan for Businesses .
• Coordinate emergency planning with public emergency services to stabilize incidents involving the hazards at your facility.
• Train personnel  so they can fulfill their roles and responsibilities.
• Facilitate  exercises  to practice your plan.

Emergency Planning Resources

Pre-Incident Planning

• Fire Service Features of Buildings and Fire Protection Systems  - U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Publication 3256-07N
• Standard on Pre-Incident Planning  - National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1620

Protective Actions for Life Safety

• Evacuation Planning Matrix  – OSHA
• Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool  - OSHA
• Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms

Last Updated: 09/07/2023

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Business Emergency Response Plan Template

Every business should develop and implelement an emergency plan for protecting employees, visitors, contractors, and anyone else on site. An emergency response plan is a written document that enables business to plan for incident response and is included in part of a business continuity program. It should be drafted with known resources available, and include a process for assessing damage, protecting property, and minimizing damage and business disruptions.

More information on emergency response plans can be found at Ready.gov

Emergency Response Plan http://www.ready.gov/business/implementation/emergency

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8 steps to create a business emergency plan

Help protect your small business and its employees against unforeseen crises by creating a well-organized emergency plan. Presented by  Chase for Business .

You can’t predict the future or fully prevent disasters from impacting your business.

You can, however, take steps to prepare your small business for unforeseen and unfortunate turns in the market. With a bit of careful planning and a well-thought-out business emergency plan, you’ll be able to minimize negative impact and help ensure your business stays operational.

1. Anticipate your predominant risks

The first step in business continuity and emergency planning is to identify potential risks. Disaster can be man-made (a cybersecurity attack ) or natural (a hurricane or earthquake). The inherent risks you face are largely dependent on where your business is located or what kind of business you operate.

Conceptualize disaster scenarios for your location and market — then begin working backwards toward effective safeguards.

2. Identify your company's top priorities

The safety of your employees, customers, suppliers and neighbors should be the first priority for your business. You should have clear plans for evacuation and sheltering in place, as well as longer-term plans for how to support your community.

Identifying the materials that take top priority for your business also helps focus the scope of your emergency plan. The highest priority may be physical property, cash or data. In any case, considering the location and vulnerability of each business asset will help inform your emergency plan.

3. Have a secure backup solution

A business emergency plan should include storing and backing up all essential data at a secure, off-site location. Data breaches and other cybersecurity attacks can be incredibly costly to small businesses.

Securely storing data can minimize downtime during a disaster and help you remain operational for your employees and the public. If your business keeps any physical documents, it’s a good idea to secure them in a tamper-proof, fire-proof safe as well as back them up with digital copies.

4. Develop your plan

Different businesses will have vastly different emergency plans.

Whatever your specific environment, market and emergency planning entails, be thorough. No detail is worth breezing over. Consider how you will protect your employees in case of an earthquake, or your physical business assets if there’s a fire or customers if your email database is compromised. Also, include when and how you plan on addressing the public.

FEMA’s Ready Business program provides a number of natural disaster toolkits to help ensure nothing crucial is overlooked.

5. Establish a chain of command

Similar to any other workplace safety policy , business emergency plans are useless if none of your business’s stakeholders know about it.

An emergency communication strategy should be a core component of your plan. Identify staff members who can effectively lead in the face of pressure and uncertainty. Specify who is in charge, who’s next in command and who needs to be contacted in the event of an emergency. Be sure to update emergency contact information for all staff on an annual basis.

6. Mitigate the potential damage

Help mitigate the impact of a disaster on your business by keeping all your systems up to date — from the fire extinguishers to the software.

Aside from testing your various systems for weak points, ensure your business has ample insurance for the disasters that (statistically speaking) pose the greatest threat to your work environment.

7. Keep your small business emergency plan up to date

Best practice is to keep your emergency plan up to date and test its effectiveness frequently.

Make sure things like emergency contact information and your evacuation plan are current and ensure that your disaster kit is kept stocked and is accessible. Once a year, designate employees to go through a disaster simulation to make sure each process works as intended.

8. Know what emergency resources are available

It’s a good idea to become familiar with available disaster assistance resources in the event that an emergency does happen. Speak with your business banker to determine if your finances are in order. The Small Business Association (SBA) has several resources for disaster aid , including disaster unemployment assistance and the qualifications for special tax provisions and emergency loans.

Foresight and preparation can go a long way in minimizing the impact of disasters.

In addition to a well-informed insurance agent, speak with a business banker to establish you’re financing is in order in case disaster strikes.

For Informational/Educational Purposes Only: The views expressed in this article may differ from other employees and departments of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Views and strategies described may not be appropriate for everyone, and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any individual. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions, and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. ©2023 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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Sample Emergency Action Program

Emergency action plan, sample written plan.

This sample Emergency Action Plan is provided by the Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program.  In order to comply with OSHA’s standard for Emergency Action Plans, 29 CFR 1910.38, this written program must be site specific.  Modify the template to reflect the policies and procedures of your company.  Since OSHA regulations set minimum requirements, you may choose to add additional information to your site specific plan. There is no requirement to follow this sample and its use does not guarantee compliance with the OSHA standard.

An Emergency Action Plan describes the actions employees should take in case of fire or other emergency situations. Most workplaces must have an emergency action plan. For workplaces with more than 10 employees, the plan must be in writing.  If a company has fewer than 10 employees, they may communicate the plan orally.

To prepare your plan, follow these steps:

1. Read the Emergency Action Plans Standard, 29 CFR 1910.38

2. The following information may be useful in developing your program:

• OSHA Emergency Action Plan Checklist
• OSHA's Emergency Action Plan eTool
• OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.165, Employee Alarm Systems , provides guidance on emergency alarms

3. Add information to make it site specific to your company.

4. For clarification or assistance, contact the Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation at 573-522-SAFE.

(To customize, please complete and remove the highlighted areas of the program)

Date Created:

Date Reviewed:

1. Company Policy The objective of the Emergency Action Plan is to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Action Plans Standard, 29 CFR 1910.38, and to prepare employees for dealing with emergency situations.  This plan is designed to minimize injury and loss of human life and company resources by training employees, procuring and maintaining necessary equipment, and assigning responsibilities.  This plan applies to all emergencies that may reasonably be expected to occur at (Name of Company).

2. Assignment of Responsibility

(Name of person or job title)  is the Emergency Coordinator.  Their responsibility is to manage the Emergency Action Plan for (Name of Company) .   The Emergency Coordinator shall also maintain all training records pertaining to this plan and coordinating with local public resources, such as the fire department and emergency medical personnel, to ensure that they are prepared to respond as detailed in this plan.

The following employees can be contacted for more information about the Emergency Action plan:

3. Emergency Reporting The following emergencies are to be reported to the Emergency Coordinator or area supervisor:

Natural Disasters (tornado, flood, earthquake)

Workplace violence, hazardous material spill, off site injury or vehicle accident.

• (Other Emergencies)

4. Evacuation Plans (Attach Routes) Emergency evacuation escape route plans are posted in key areas throughout the buildings. All employees have been trained concerning these plans and should also be familiar with the evacuation plans for the other buildings within the company.

5. Employee Accountability Procedures after Evacuation

After evacuation, each (Name of person or job title)  is responsible for accounting for each employee assigned to them at their predetermined rally point by conducting a head count. Each employee will be accounted for by name. Each employee is responsible for reporting to his or her supervisor so an accurate head count can be made. All supervisors are required to report their head count to the Emergency Coordinator.

6. Rescue or Medical Duties

*(NOTE)* Your company must decide how/if you will have employees perform rescue or medical duties.  There are several options for responding to an emergency. Pick what option(s) that applies to your facility.

• (Name of Company) is going to rely on local resources such as hospitals or fire departments to provide rescue and medical services  
• (Name of Company) has trained employees, but DOES NOT REQUIRE certain employees to administer first aid and CPR.  If the employee chooses to administer aid, then they will be acting as a "Good Samaritan" and are not included in a Bloodborne Pathogen program  
• (Name of Company) has trained and REQUIRES certain employees to administer first aid and CPR.  All employees assigned to perform such duties have been properly trained and equipped to carry out their assigned responsibilities.  These employees will be included in a Bloodborne Pathogen program

7. Critical Operations

In the event that evacuation of the premises is necessary, some items may need to be secured to prevent further detriment to the facility and personnel on hand (such as securing confidential/irreplaceable records, or shutting down equipment to prevent release of hazardous materials).

All individuals remaining behind to shut down critical systems or utilities shall be capable of recognizing when to abandon the operation or task.  Once the property and/or equipment has been secured, or the situation becomes too dangerous to remain, these individuals shall exit the building by the nearest escape route as soon as possible and meet the remainder of the employees at the designated rally point.  Only the following individuals may remain in the building for the prescribed amount of time to secure the property and equipment to which they have been assigned.

8. Training Training is provided to employees:

• When the plan is initiated
• When employee’s required actions and responsibilities change
• When there are any changes to the plan
• Initially for new employees
• Refresher training annually  

Items reviewed during training:

• Emergency escape procedures and rally points
• Escape route assignments
• Fire extinguisher locations and training
• Procedures to account for employees
• Major workplace fire hazards
• Employee training programs
• Fire prevention practices
• Means of reporting fire and other emergencies
• Alarm system(s)
• Proper housekeeping
• Emergency action plan availability
• Hazardous Weather Procedures
• Medical Emergencies
• Any other emergency procedures needed for this facility (bomb threat, workplace violence, etc)

Emergency Phone Number List

(post in key areas throughout facility)

Fire Emergency

When fire is discovered:

• Activate the nearest fire alarm (if installed)
• Notify the local Fire Department by calling                                                .
• If the fire alarm is not available, notify the site personnel about the fire emergency by the following means: voice communications, radio, phone paging, other. (pick options)  

Fight the fire ONLY if:

• The Fire Department has been notified
• The fire is small and is not spreading to other areas
• Escaping the area is possible by backing up to the nearest exit
• The fire extinguisher is in working condition and personnel are trained to use it

Upon being notified about the fire emergency, occupants must:

• Leave the building using the designated escape routes
• Assemble in the designated area (specify location)                     
• Remain outside until the competent authority (Designated Official or designee) announces that it is safe to reenter  

Emergency Coordinator or supervisors must:

• Coordinate an orderly evacuation of personnel
• Perform an accurate head count of personnel reported to the designated area
• Notify Fire Department about missing personnel
• Provide the Fire Department personnel with the necessary information about the facility  

Supervisors must:

• Ensure that all employees have evacuated the area/floor
• Report any problems to the Emergency Coordinator at the assembly area
• Emergency Coordinator will monitor the weather conditions;
• Notify the site personnel about the emergency by the following means: voice communications, radio, phone paging, other   (pick options)
• When a warning is issued by sirens or other means, seek inside shelter (add designated shelter point)  

Consider the following: Small interior rooms on the lowest floor and without windows, Hallways on the lowest floor away from doors and windows, and rooms constructed with reinforced concrete, brick, or block with no windows.                   

• Stay away from outside walls and windows
• Use arms to protect head and neck
• Remain sheltered until the tornado threat is announced to be over  
• Be ready to evacuate as directed by the Emergency Coordinator and/or the designated official
• Notify the site personnel about the emergency by the following means: voice communications, radio, phone paging, other  (pick options)
• Follow the recommended evacuation routes  

Earthquake:

• Stay calm and await instructions from the Emergency Coordinator or the designated official
• Keep away from overhead fixtures, windows, filing cabinets, and electrical power
• Evacuate as instructed by the Emergency Coordinator and/or the designated official

The Emergency Coordinator or supervisor shall call the appropriate emergency responder.  Do not move victim unless absolutely necessary.

Provide the following information:

• Nature of medical emergency
• Location of the emergency (address, building, room number)
• Your name and phone number from which you are calling
• Notify personnel trained in CPR and First Aid to provide the required assistance prior to the arrival of the professional medical help. (If applicable)

(Name of Company) resources may not be used to threaten, stalk or harass anyone at or outside the workplace. Indirect or direct threats of violence, incidents of actual violence and suspicious individuals or activities should be reported as soon as possible to the Emergency Coordinator or supervisor.  When reporting a threat or incident of violence, the employee should be as specific and detailed as possible. Employees should not place themselves in peril, nor should they attempt to intercede during an incident.

Consider creating a detailed plan about active shooter, bomb threat, or disgruntled employee/customer.  

Safety of personnel during chemical exposure is of paramount importance. 

• Report all material spills to the Emergency Coordinator or supervisor
• Emergency Coordinator will notify a local spill cleanup company or the Fire Department (if arrangements have been made) to perform a large chemical spill cleanup
• Only those trained in emergency operations shall perform clean-up operations
• Trained personnel shall take precautions to prevent the spread of chemical spills
• Utilize Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to determine appropriate response measures.  SDS are located in (SDS location)
• Spills must be handled in a safe manner, while wearing the proper PPE

In the event a worker is conducting working operations at any off-site location and experiences any accident or injury, the Emergency Coordinator is to be notified immediately. State the location, the nature of the accident, type of injury and location being transported to.  Emergency Responders are authorized to exercise judgment in transportation to the appropriate medical facility.  The Emergency Coordinator shall make appropriate notification to the worker’s emergency contacts, and if practicable, meet them at the medical facility.

In the event of a transportation accident, in addition to the steps listed above, a report shall be made with the appropriate locality law enforcement.

Emergency Action Plan Training Roster

Training Performed By: