Emergency situations can arise at any time during daily workplace activities. Suppose a co‑worker suffers a medical emergency. Or your facility is faced with dangerous inclement weather, fire outbreaks, or sudden power outages. There could be hazardous chemical spills or dangerous intruders onsite.
How will your personnel know how to respond appropriately if an incident affects your facility? Emergency preparedness is key, and a well-written and routinely practiced and updated Emergency Action Plan (EAP) will ensure workplace safety—and that your organization will take consistent, calculated, and deliberate actions in any emergency.
Myth 1: My Organization Doesn’t Need an EAP
Some might think that their organization doesn’t need an EAP, but EAPs are required for all companies with eleven or more employees. An EAP, also called an ERP (Emergency Response Plan), is an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)-mandated written safety document kept in the workplace. Its purpose is to outline and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies.
EAPs are especially critical for workplaces that deal with hazardous materials, fire response teams, medical tasks, or operations necessitating delayed evacuation operations. These entities require comprehensive EAPs that are conveniently located in the workplace, available for all employees to review.
Myth 2: A General EAP is All We Need
Although some might think that a general EAP will suffice, EAPs need to be comprehensive and site specific to be effective. Your sites must be prepared to respond to unique emergency conditions. They must have site-specific evacuation policies and procedures, emergency reporting mechanisms, and alarm systems.
To develop and implement your site-specific plan, your organization will need to do the following:
· Establish a planning team to collaborate on the EAP.
· Evaluate current plans, procedures, incident records, and drill records.
· Identify possible emergencies or hazards.
· Identify the emergency resources available to assist with incidents.
· Review codes and regulations to ensure the EAP meets guidelines.
· Establish training programs to ensure that the EAP will be implemented effectively.
· Ensure that communication plans are in place so that emergencies are
efficiently reported to all requisite parties.
· Write the EAP and ensure that there’s a plan in place for updating it.
For OSHA compliance, the minimum requirements of a compliant EAP include the following:
EAP Component | Includes |
Reporting emergencies | An EAP must include clear procedures for reporting fires and other emergencies. |
Evacuation plans | An EAP includes detailed evacuation procedures—the types of evacuation, as well as assigned emergency escape routes. |
Critical plant operations | An EAP must have guidelines for those employees responsible for operating critical plant operations before evacuating. |
Employee accountability | Methods must be in place for accounting for all employees after an emergency evacuation. |
Rescue and medical duties | An EAP must define the roles and responsibilities for employees who perform rescue and medical duties. |
Contact information | An EAP must list the names and job titles of individuals to be contacted during emergencies. |
Myth 3: We’re All Set Now That Our EAP is Written
You might think that you’re done once you’ve written the main components of your EAP. However, you still need to train your employees on the EAP, and you need a plan in place to conduct regular employee training.
You also need to ensure that the EAP will be kept up to date. Regular EAP update reviews are imperative. The EAP is the cornerstone of workplace safety, but only if it is kept current. A well‑structured and maintained EAP is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a strategic tool to protect your people and business.
The Truth Is that Developing an EAP Is Challenging
What’s not a myth is that developing an EAP is a lot of work. Organizations often need help with the process. Spark Thought can help your organization meet the challenge. Our consultants will work with you to develop an EAP for your organization to ensure the safety of your team. We will help your organization meet OSHA regulations, safeguard your business, and save you time. Learn how to get started with Spark Thought.