An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is usually a written document required by particular OSHA standards. For smaller organizations, the plan does not need to be written, and may be communicated orally if there are 10 or fewer employees. The purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. The elements of the plan must include:
- 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 they evacuate
- Procedures to account for all employees after an emergency evacuation has been completed
- 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
OSHA Expert can help you to create a simple EAP. This basic plan will be adequate for needs of many small and medium-sized organizations but may not be adequate for large establishments or those with more significant hazards. Users in such establishments should consider the special characteristics of their workplaces. This basic plan can be supplemented to address any situations that require special attention.
This OSHA Expert only provides information based on Federal OSHA Emergency Action Plan requirements. If you are covered by a state OSHA plan, you may need to contact your local state OSHA office.
Most small and medium-sized entities will get their basic plans from this system in 10 to 15 minutes. Please remember that this expert system DOES NOT save any of the information that you enter or the plan that it helps you to write, so you should save or print your plan when it is completed. Please visit the OSHA Expert User Guide to obtain further instruction.
Create your own Emergency Action Plan here.