You should plan in advance what you will do in an emergency. Be prepared to assess the situation, use common sense and whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and your co-workers. Think about your workplace and where you spend most of your time. Ask about your emergency plans. Find out how the company will communicate to employees during an emergency.

COMMUNICATION
You and your coworkers should understand how your company communicates an emergency and when an evacuation is required.

DECIDING WHEN TO GO
Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the first important decision is whether you can safely get away. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. If evacuation is necessary, follow predetermined evacuation routes and assist others as needed, such as disabled persons. Move under control to reassembly areas as quickly as possible, and wait until instructed to leave.

EVACUATION ROUTES
Ask about the emergency evacuation plans at the places you frequent. Know the proper and most efficient route to take if evacuation is necessary. When visiting another facility take note of evacuation routes that are posted. When in doubt, ask.

IN A MOVING VEHICLE
Assess the situation. Call for help. Identify emergency personnel or, if they have not arrived, be prepared to move your vehicle out of the way. Provide assistance to injured motorists if it can be done so safely.

IN A HIGH-RISE BUILDING
High-rise buildings present unique hazards and challenges during evacuation. Plan for the possibility. Know escape routes and where reassembly areas are.

1. Use available information to evaluate the situation. Note where the closest emergency exit is.

2. Be sure you know another way out of the building in case your first choice is blocked.

3. Take cover against a desk or table if things are falling.

4. Move away from file cabinets, bookshelves or other things that might fall.

5. Face away from windows and glass. Move away from exterior walls.

6. Determine to stay put, "shelter-in-place" or get away. Listen for and follow instructions from authorities.

7. Take your emergency supply kit, unless there is reason to believe it has been contaminated or cannot be located immediately.

8. Do not use elevators.

9. Stay to the right while going down stairwells to allow emergency workers to come up the stairs into the building.

 

Evacuation Planning Matrix (OSHA)

Does Your Facility Need an Emergency Action Plan?

This checklist is provided only to identify an employer's need to develop an emergency action plan in compliance with the Emergency Action Plan standard (29 CFR 1910.38). It does not alert you to other OSHA standards that may be associated with your emergency plan or to the additional OSHA standards that apply to your facility.

QUESTION	YES	NO
Are fire extinguishers provided in the workplace?
Are the fire extinguishers intended for employee use?
Will any of your employees be required to evacuate the workplace?
If you answered "no" to either of the first two or "yes" to all three questions then you are required to develop an EAP. Otherwise, you should continue with the questions in the table below.

QUESTION	YES	NO
Does your facility use a total flooding extinguishing system that provides any one of the following design concentrations: 4% or greater of Halon 1211? 4% or greater of carbon dioxide? 10% or greater of Halon 1301, or concentrations exceeding 7% when egress from an area cannot be accomplished in one minute?
Does your facility use a fire detection system with alarms or devices that are delayed by more than 30 seconds for reasons other than a total flooding extinguishing system listed above?
Are you required to comply with 29 CFR 1910.119 Process Safety Management?
Are you required to comply with 29 CFR 1910.272 Grain Handling Facilities?
Are you required to comply with 29 CFR 1910.1047 Ethylene Oxide?
Are you required to comply with 29 CFR 1910.1050 Methylenedianiline?
Are you required to comply with 29 CFR 1910.1051 1,3-Butadiene?
Do you plan to evacuate all of your employees and to rely on an outside party to provide emergency response to a hazardous substance release?
Note: if a hazardous substance emergency could occur at your facility and you plan to have any of your employees participate in the emergency response, you are required to have an emergency response plan consistent with 29 CFR 1910.120(q) (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response).
If you answered, "YES" to any one of the questions above, you are required to develop an emergency action plan in compliance with the Emergency Action Plan standard (29 CFR 1910.38).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides guidance to help employers develop emergency action plans. Some of these resources are the non-mandatory Appendix to Subpart E - Means of Egress and Chapter 10 Emergency Preparedness and Response of the Small Business Outreach Training Program.

What should employers do to protect workers from fire hazards?

Employers should train workers about fire hazards in the workplace and about what to do in a fire emergency. If you want your workers to evacuate, you should train them on how to escape. If you expect your workers to use firefighting equipment, you should give them appropriate equipment and train them to use the equipment safely. (See Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 1910 Subparts E and L; and Part 1926 Subparts C and F.)

What does OSHA require for emergency fire exits?

Every workplace must have enough exits suitably located to enable everyone to get out of the facility quickly. Considerations include the type of structure, the number of persons exposed, the fire protection available, the type of industry involved, and the height and type of construction of the building or structure. In addition, fire doors must not be blocked or locked when employees are inside. Delayed opening of fire doors, however, is permitted when an approved alarm system is integrated into the fire door design. Exit routes from buildings must be free of obstructions and properly marked with exit signs. See 29 CFR Part 1910.36 for details about all requirements.

Do employers have to provide portable fire extinguishers?

No. But if you do, you must establish an educational program to familiarize your workers with the general principles of fire extinguisher use. If you expect your workers to use portable fire extinguishers, you must provide hands-on training in using this equipment. For details, see 29 CFR Part 1910 Subpart L.

Must employers develop emergency action plans?

Not every employer is required to have an emergency action plan. OSHA standards that require such plans include the following:

OSHA standards that require fire prevention plans include the following:

Fixed extinguishing systems throughout the workplace are among the most reliable fire fighting tools. These systems detect fires, sound an alarm, and send water to the fire and heat. To meet OSHA standards employers who have these systems must:

Additional Resources:

Evacuation Plans and Procedures e-Tool

Fire Safety (OSHA)

How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations (pdf)

Training Roster