Why Your Workplace Needs An Evacuation Plan?

Emergency evacuation planning and training is a Department of Labor, OSHA requirement. Keeping up-to-date with the latest guidelines and training specifics is challenging for small business owners and commercial property managers. Paul Davis Restoration offers help. “Knowing what’s required is the best way to start,” explains Brady Radmall, President, Davis of Phoenix, AZ. “Emergency action plans (U.S, Department of Labor, OSHA standard # 1910.38) specify that Emergency Action Plans must follow these guidelines.“

Application. An employer must have an emergency action plan whenever an OSHA standard requires one. The requirements in this section apply to each such emergency action plan.

Written and oral emergency action plans. An emergency action plan must be in writing, kept in the workplace, and available to employees for review. However, an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees.

Minimum elements of an emergency action plan. An emergency action plan must include these five procedures at a minimum:

1. Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency.
2. Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments.
3. Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate. 
4. Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation.
5. Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties and the name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan.

In addition, the emergency action plan requires:

Employee alarm system. An employer must have and maintain an employee alarm system. The employee alarm system must use a distinctive signal for each purpose and comply with the requirements of OSHA  standardFifty1910.165.

Training. An employer must designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees.

Review of an emergency action plan. An employer must review the emergency action plan with each employee covered by the plan: when the plan is developed or the employee is assigned initially to a job; when the employee’s responsibilities under the plan change; and when the plan is changed.

Is your business ready for an emergency? 

Fifty percent of businesses are not and half of employees report that their companies lack emergency preparedness. To protect your business now: update your emergency preparedness plan, or EPP for short,” urges Radmall. “If a disaster strikes, smart responses won’t come naturally. Confusion often reigns. A smart, accurate, up-to-date roadmap calms your team and gives a fighting chance to survive disruption.”

For more information from the property restoration experts at Paul Davis use this link … https://pauldavis.com/blog/smart-business-owners-start-the-new-year-with-an-updated-emergency-preparedness-plan/