Last modified on August 15th, 2023

Benefits of an Emergency Action Plan

Every September, government agencies and organizations promote National Preparedness Month to remind employers and the general public about the importance of having an emergency action plan (EAP) to prevent injuries and save lives.

Each year, the campaign introduces a unique theme to address varying aspects of preparedness. In 2021, the focus was on “Prepare to Protect,” emphasizing the collective responsibility of safeguarding communities. The subsequent year, 2022, brought forward “A Lasting Legacy,” a call to create resilient systems for future generations. This year, 2023, the emphasis is on “Preparing for Older Adults,” shedding light on the specific needs and considerations required to safeguard the elderly during emergencies.

This month-long awareness campaign provides businesses in every industry a perfect opportunity to review their EAPs and identify areas of improvement. Before you start overhauling your disaster prep and response policies, let’s quickly review what an emergency action plan is and how it can help protect your employees if and when a disaster strikes. 

What is an Emergency Action Plan?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), an emergency action plan (EAP) is a set of written policies that are “intended to facilitate and organize employer and worker actions during workplace emergencies and is recommended for all employers.” When paired with comprehensive employee training, an EAP can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of employee injuries during emergency situations, while also minimizing damage to your facility and business assets.

Since workplace emergencies come in many different forms, it’s important to include detailed procedures for a wide range of natural and man-made hazards, including:

• Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes
• Fires, toxic gas releases, chemical spills, explosions
• Civil disturbances, workplace violence

Benefits of an emergency action plan

Having an EAP in place is just smart business. Here’s why:

• Keeping everyone safe: First and foremost, an EAP is your blueprint to make sure everyone gets out safe and sound in the case of a workplace emergency.
• Protecting your assets: An EAP helps you shield your business, whether it’s from a fire, flood or Hugo from accounting accidentally mixing chemicals.
• Going back to business: With a robust EAP in place you’re planning for what comes after an emergency, ensuring your business gets back on its feet faster.
• Boosting your brand: When clients and partners see you’re prepared, it sends a strong message. Your business isn’t only about profits — it’s about people too.
• Cutting down costs: Believe it or not, being prepared might just save you some money in the long run. Fewer damages, lower liabilities and reduced insurance premiums.

The key to developing an effective EAP is to anticipate these and other hazards that might pose a risk to your employees’ health and safety. While it may be impossible to predict when an emergency situation may occur, having the right policies in place will allow your workers to take decisive action and look out for one another during the evacuation process. So how can employers create a comprehensive EAP? 

Develop an Effective Emergency Action Plan

There are a variety of online resources, including  OSHA’s eTool, that help employers create a basic EAP – and it’s crucial to tailor your policies to the specific hazards your workers may encounter. For example, facilities on the Southeast Coast are more likely to experience hurricanes than workplaces located in the Midwest. Since every region of the U.S. has its own seasonal weather patterns, and every industry contends with different occupational risks, a thorough hazard assessment is the best place to start.

Here are 5 Key Questions to Ask when Planning an Emergency Action Plan:

1. Which natural disasters are most common in my area?
2. What other physical hazards could lead to an emergency situation?
3. Which substances (chemical, radioactive, etc.) could pose a risk to employee health and safety?
4. What specific equipment or machinery could start a fire?
5. How many evacuation routes are there in my facility?

After you’ve conducted a thorough risk assessment, the next step is to create detailed response and evacuation plans that describe how employees will respond to each specific hazard. These procedures should take the layout and structural features of your workplace into account, along with any automated emergency systems you may have installed. Employers who own and operate more than one worksite should create a separate EAP for each location to ensure all evacuation routes are accurate and up to date. Keep in mind, emergency preparedness is an ongoing process, which is why employers should continuously review their response plans and update their policies if new hazards are identified. 

Emergency Preparedness and OSHA Compliance

The primary purpose of EAPs is to protect employees during workplace emergencies, but they are also essential for remaining compliant with OSHA’s occupational standards for general industry (29 CFR 1910), construction (29 CFR 1926) and maritime (29 CFR 1915, 1917 and 1918) worksites.

According to OSHA’s general industry guidelines, all emergency action plans must, at a minimum, include the following components:

• Processes for reporting fires and other emergencies
• Evacuation plans and emergency escape route assignments
• Procedures for all employees who remain onsite to facilitate critical operations before evacuating
• Methods of accounting for all employees following an emergency evacuation
• Medical and rescue duties for workers who may perform them
• Names and job titles of individuals who can be contacted

While not required, OSHA also recommends employers include detailed descriptions of alarm systems that can be used to notify workers about ongoing emergencies and the need to evacuate. Every worksite should have a designated meeting area that emergency vehicles and first responders can easily access, as this will allow medical personnel to administer potentially life-saving treatment to employees who have been seriously injured. It’s also important to store workers’ emergency contact information in a secure on- or off-site location, along with any crucial legal or financial records that insurers may request.

If you’re looking to create or improve your emergency action plan, FFVA Mutual can help! To learn more, browse our safety resources or download our helpful Emergency Action Plan Checklist today!