An emergency action plan describes the actions employees should take to ensure their safety if a fire or other emergency situation occurs. 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.

Putting together a comprehensive emergency plan that deals with those issues specific to our 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. Most organizations find it better to include a diverse group of representatives (management and employees) in the planning procedure to meet frequently to review progress and allocate development tasks. The commitment and support of all employees is critical to the plan’s success in the event of an emergency; ask for their help in establishing and implementing your emergency action plan.

What should an emergency action plan contain?

How do I develop an emergency action plan?

What are the essential evacuation elements?

In some instances, is it better to shelter in place?

How are portable fire extinguishers integrated into the emergency action plan?

How are fire, rescue and medical services arranged?

What are the options for reporting an emergency and alerting employees?

Your planning process and site-specific emergency plan should address each of the following elements:

· Preferred procedures for reporting emergencies such as dialing 911, or an internal emergency number, or pulling a manual fire alarm.

· A description of the alarm system to be used to notify employees (including disabled employees) to evacuate and/or take other actions. The alarms used for different actions should be distinctive and might include horn blasts, sirens, or even public address systems.

· An evacuation policy, procedures, and escape route assignments so employees understand who is authorized to order an evacuation, under what conditions an evacuation would be necessary, how to evacuate, and what routes to take.

· Procedures for employees who remain on site after the evacuation alarm sounds, if required before evacuating. Employees may be required to operate fire extinguishers or shut down electrical equipment.

· Procedures to account for employees after the evacuation to ensure that everyone got out might include procedures for designated employees to sweep areas, checking offices and securing rooms, before being the last to leave a workplace or conducting a roll call in the assembly. Many employers designate an “evacuation warder” to assist others in an evacuation and to account for personnel.

· The duties, responsibilities, and names of employees assigned with rescue and medical tasks. Most small organizations rely on local public resources such as the local fire department.

· A description of how employees will be informed on the contents of the plan and trained in roles and responsibilities.

· The names, titles, departments, and phone numbers of employees who be contacted for additional information or clarification of some aspect of the plan.

· A list of key personnel who should be contacted during off hours emergencies.

· The site of an alternative communication center to be used in the event of a fire or explosion.

· A secure on-off site location to store originals or duplicate copies of accounting record, documents, your employee’s emergency contact lists, and other essential records.

· Effective plans often call for retraining employees annual and include drills in which employees practice evacuating their workplace

· And gathering in the assembly area.

How do I develop an Emergency Action Plan?

It is essential that the emergency plan developed be site specific with respect to emergency conditions evaluated, evacuation policies and procedures, emergency reporting mechanisms, and alarm systems. To assist you in your planning, a series of checklist have been provided that identify is that that must be considered when drafting a comprehensive emergency action plan. Contact Rick Scott at A Plus Benefits to obtain this checklist.

Rick Scott is the Safety Director for A Plus Benefits, Inc.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 5th, 2007 at 8:15 am and is filed under Risk Management, Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.