Every employer is required to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in writing if they have 11 or more employees.

If the employer has 10 or fewer employees (including seasonal, temporary workers, and office staff), the plan can be communicated orally.

An EAP should include every realistic emergency scenario that your team could encounter in the workplace. Depending on the industry or facility, it should, at a minimum, consist of:

• Extreme weather – cloud to ground lightning, tornados, snow, etc.

• Fires – each area should have a designated fire extinguisher that best suits the environment.

• Natural disasters – earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.

• Chemical release.

• Terrorism or active shooter scenarios.

• Medical emergencies.

Training Must Be Thorough

Employers are responsible for training all employees on the EAP. Training should be provided during new-hire orientation and for those whose jobs will be affected.

Training should also be provided anytime there is a change to the EAP.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires training on procedures to report fires or other emergencies, as well as evacuation and exit route assignments for affected personnel.

The onboarding process may include additional training, such as fire extinguisher, first aid and CPR, confined space and rescue, bloodborne pathogens, etc.

Employers must have an alarm system that can be heard by all employees in any area of the facility or workplace.

The alarm must be tested and maintained on a regular basis and must have two distinctly different tones, one for shelter-in-place and one for evacuation.

All employees should know where the designated muster points (meeting areas) are when the alarm for an evacuation sounds.

OSHA requires at least two emergency exits, and every employee should be familiar with both, as one exit may become inaccessible during an emergency event.

Designated shelter-in-place areas are rooms within a facility, preferably without windows. All employees, when they hear the alarm for shelter-in-place, should stop what they are doing and meet in the closest designated area.

EAP Safety Tips

• Ensure all emergency exits are clean and free of obstruction and have proper emergency lighting. (Test the emergency lighting at least quarterly).

• Designate who gathers timecards and sign-in sheets, and ensure all employees, contractors, and visitors are accounted for at muster areas.

• Designate one or more persons to stay behind to shut down essential equipment or processes unless the designated person is in immediate danger.

• Have outside meeting locations clearly defined, such as: “The meeting point is at the flagpole north of the facility.” Consider adding a sign at this area marking it as the emergency meeting point.

• Never ignore emergency alarms, report to designated locations immediately.

• Train everyone, practice often, and perform unannounced drills to evaluate your team’s response. This will help you identify opportunities for improvement.

Source: Glenn Dickey, All-Safe Program Manager at AgriSphere Services, LLC, Decatur, IL: gdickey@agrisphere.com, agrisphere.com.