Emergency Preparedness Depends on Having a Good Plan
Research reveals that only 43 percent of small businesses feel adequately prepared to handle a natural or man-made disaster.
If your company falls among the organizations ill prepared to cope with an emergency on-site, now is the time to fix the situation. Below are the answers to some common questions regarding emergency action plans:
Q: What is an emergency action plan (EAP)?
A: An EAP is a written document that serves to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies.
Q: Who needs an EAP?
A: Almost every business is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to have an EAP. Specifically, you must have a plan:
- If fire extinguishers are required or provided in your workplace
- If anyone will be evacuating during a fire or other emergency
Q: Are there exceptions?
A: OSHA allows one exception: If you have an in-house fire brigade in which every employee is trained and equipped to fight fires (meaning no one evacuates).
Q: What are some key considerations when creating an EAP?
A: You’ll need to address the specific work-site layout, structural features and emergency systems when formulating your plan. You’ll also need to consider the type of facility, processes performed on-site and number of employees.
Q: What elements does OSHA require in a plan?
A: Among the major elements that OSHA requires in an EAP are:
- Means of reporting fires and other emergencies
- Evacuation procedures and emergency escape route assignments
- Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before evacuating
- Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them
- Names or job titles of persons who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan
Q: How detailed does an EAP have to be?
A: A simple EAP will generally suffice in offices, small retail shops and small manufacturing settings:
- Where there are few hazardous materials or processes
- Employees evacuate when alarms sound or when notified by public address systems
More complex plans are required in workplaces that:
- Have hazardous materials on-site
- Expect employees to fight fires and/or perform rescue and medical tasks
- Require some employees to stay behind to shut down critical equipment before evacuating
Some Final Words
Emergencies pose a threat to even the most safety conscious of organizations. So take action, not chances. Review your EAP today while there is still time to do so.
