Speaker 1: Imagine you're a manager of a large office building. To comply with OSHA standards, you must host regular fire safety drills. It isn't that hard, right? Everyone knows to exit the building when the fire alarm goes off. It's common sense at this point. However, imagine having the drill end and discovering two people are missing. The missing people clocked in for the day. The group leader knows they exited the building during the drill, but no one knows where they are. Later, you find out that these two people decided to go out for their lunch break instead of waiting with their group during the exercise. What would have happened if that wasn't a drill but an actual emergency? What lives would have been at risk? What is the responsibility of the employers versus the responsibility of the employee? OSHA requires all employers to have and communicate an emergency action plan that should answer those questions. This module will provide an overview of all required elements of an emergency action plan. These include procedures for communicating or reporting an emergency, procedures for emergency evacuations, contacts and roles and responsibilities in the event of an emergency, and guidelines for staying behind or rendering medical aid during an emergency. Everyone must know exactly what to do and who to contact in an emergency situation. According to OSHA's standards, all employers must have and communicate an emergency action plan. Any employer with over 10 employees must have a written emergency action plan accessible to all employees. Now, employers with fewer than 10 people can't explain their emergency action plan orally. However, everyone from management to the frontline employee should know exactly what to do in any given emergency situation. The first element of the emergency action plan is reporting an emergency. In many cases, such as with a fire, an alarm system is in place so employees can follow the prescribed evacuation procedure. But what is the process for other types of emergencies? Emergencies can range from significant events, such as a fire or dangerous weather event, to a hazardous material spill or other dangers to workers. It's critical for the action plan to detail the types of emergencies and appropriate responses. Some examples are to keep hazard communications updated so all employees know what to do regarding a spill or exposure. Outline the response to weather-related emergencies, like a tornado or a hurricane. And to establish a chain of command or response team responsible for ensuring adherence to the emergency action plan. Evacuation procedures should be tailored to mitigate the type of crisis. In the case of a fire, everyone should know which exit to use and the location of a safe meeting place outside the fire's range. Evacuation procedures for various types of emergencies may look different. For example, in the event of a hazardous material spill, workers within the range of impact should evacuate while those outside can shelter in place. Similarly, the response to an earthquake versus a tornado is strikingly different. During an earthquake, all should evacuate outside if given notice or take shelter under a sturdy object. Everyone should evacuate to the designated safe area in case of a tornado or hurricane. Each action plan should detail the type of emergency and a specific evacuation plan. These plans should be provided or posted for all employees, or if the employer is small enough, these plans may be communicated orally among the workers. There should be zero guesswork. Each evacuation plan should be detailed enough to understand roles and responsibilities. A plan should clearly outline those roles by answering these questions. Who is alerted? Who takes roll call to ensure all have safely evacuated? Who, if any, needs to stay behind to ensure site safety or who should be providing medical aid? All considerations should be communicated in the emergency action plan. Some evacuation best practices are to create floor plans that detail exit routes and assembly points or locations, show where fire extinguishers, fire aid kits, and spill kits can be found, keep exit routes well lit and clear of clutter, designate leaders who can help guide people through exits and account for employees when gathering in the designated assembly area, and to explicitly state who should stay behind to shut down critical operations while still ensuring these workers know when to evacuate themselves. Each employee, from management to individual worker, needs to know their role during an evacuation. Train and drill employees on evacuation procedures. Senior employees or managers should know what is expected of themselves and each of their employees. Leadership should be asking these questions. Are they responsible for leading others to safety and accounting for those that have already evacuated? Are they responsible for maintaining or shutting down critical operations? Are they trained and expected to help provide medical aid? Emergency action plans should detail all roles and responsibilities. No one should be left guessing where they fit within the emergency action plan. Fire prevention is a large part of emergency planning. Plans should list all significant fire hazards, point to updated hazard communication and safety data sheets, provide the location of potential ignition sources and their control, and the type of fire protection equipment necessary to control each significant hazard. Fire prevention plans should include the following. The available hazard communications detailing the procedures for storing and cleaning of flammable materials or waste. Processes for controlling workplace ignition sources such as smoking, welding, and burning. Procedures for properly cleaning and maintaining heat producing equipment such as burners, heat exchangers, boilers, ovens, stoves, and fryers with instructions to keep flammables away from this equipment. And to inform workers of the potential fire hazards of their job and require a review of the fire prevention plan with all new employees. This section of an emergency action plan should also detail roles and responsibilities specifically for fire hazard situations. The name or job title of employees responsible for maintaining equipment to prevent sources of ignition or fires and detail those who are accountable for the control of fuel source hazards. Employers should have procedures when faced with a crisis to ensure smooth management or evacuation. These controls or procedures should be tailored to the type of event. In the event of a tornado, identifying shelter is the most critical aspect of the emergency action plan. An underground area provides the best protection from a tornado. If an underground shelter isn't possible, consider the following alternatives. A small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. An area away from windows, doors, and exterior walls. Or rooms constructed with reinforced concrete, brick, or block without windows. It's essential to know the warning terms used for hurricanes and also your local community's own emergency plans, warning signals, and nearest shelters. Watches means that a hurricane or tropical storm could potentially form in an area. Hurricane or tropical storm warnings mean that a hurricane or tropical storm is expected to reach the area within 24 hours. Be prepared to follow the local authority's instructions and evacuate if instructed to do so. If your company is in an area with a high potential or frequency of hurricanes, your emergency action plan should incorporate information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA. The 1 to 5 rating is based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed and estimates potential property damage. Category 3 hurricanes and higher are considered major because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage. Category 1 and 2 storms are still dangerous and require preparatory measures, even if an evacuation isn't needed. Structural components, furnishings, or unsecured material can cause a hurricane or tropical storm. Structural components, furnishings, or unsecured material are the primary dangers to workers during an earthquake. Burns resulting from building fires due to gas leaks, electrical shocks, and possible exposure to stored hazardous materials are also a concern. Some essential components when creating an earthquake preparedness section in your emergency action plan are to identify safe places under a sturdy table or against a wall. Practice drop, cover, and hold on in each safe place. Require practicing these safe earthquake procedures twice a year to reinforce safe behavior. Everyone in your workplace should know what to do if an earthquake occurs. You want to stay in place until the shaking stops. Look out for fires. Always use the stairs to exit the building. If you're in an area with a high potential or frequency of hurricanes, your emergency action plan should incorporate information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA. Look out for fires. Always use the stairs to exit a building after an earthquake. And if you're outside when the earthquake starts, stay outside. Do not enter buildings. Under certain conditions, evacuation may be necessary, typically if the event has forewarning or if officials advise evacuation. A transparent chain of command and designation of the person authorized to order an evacuation is required. Specific evacuation procedures, including routes and exits and how to assist others, should be detailed in order to prepare for scenarios that require evacuation. Specific crises have become more significant risk to companies and should be considered in an emergency action plan. Preparing for an active shooter is alarming, but many companies should include this emergency in their action plan. An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. These situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. However, most cases are over within 15 minutes. Now, this means there's no time to think things through if an active shooter event is taking place. Workers and workplaces need to be prepared mentally and physically for this emergency. Emergency action plans should help you understand how to best protect your life by determining if you should evacuate. Have an escape route and plan in mind. Help others escape, but continue to evacuate even if others decide not to follow. Leave your belongings behind. Be aware of your environment and possible dangers. If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide. Now, your hiding place should be out of the active shooter's view and provide protection. Do not trap or restrict your ability to move. Make sure to lock or blockade the door. Take action against the shooter. As an absolute last resort, attempt to take the active shooter down when you cannot flee and the shooter is in close range. The first officers to arrive at the scene will not stop to help injured people. Expect rescue teams to follow the initial officers that will treat and remove any injured persons. Once you've reached a safe location or an assembly point, law enforcement will likely hold you in that area until the situation is under control. Each type of emergency should have specific procedures, roles or responsibilities and contacts clearly outlined in an emergency action plan. Do not allow your team to be like those employees who went to lunch during a fire drill and were unaccounted for at roll call. Each person is responsible for their own safety and these processes are in place to save lives and manage any crisis that might arise. Provide frequent training and drills as confusion and panic can quickly happen during an emergency. Ensure all exits are marked on floor plans along with the location of safety kits. Host floor plans where they can be easily seen. Creating an action plan, brainstorm the worst case scenarios to create solutions. Train all new hires on the emergency action plan and use that opportunity as refresher training for existing employees. Well organized and executed emergency action plans can save lives.