Emergency Action Plans 29 CFR

FIGURE 25.9 Falls from elevated surfaces can be deadly. Source Courtesy of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.) 

Not every employer is required to have an emergency action plan (EAP). The standards that require such plans include the following  

Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chanicals, 1910.119 

If the employer has ten or fewer employees, then he or she can communicate the plan orally instead of by the required written plan that must be maintained in the workplace and available to all workers. When required, employers must develop emergency action plans that 

Address evacuation of employees who stay behind to shut down critical plant equipment. 

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Process Safety Management, 29 CFR 1910.119 Emergency Action Plan, 29 CFR 1910.38(a)(1)... 

An emergency action plan is established and implemented for the entire plant in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.38(a) and may be subject to the hazardous waste and emergency response provisions contained in 29 CFR 1910.120 (a), (p) and (q). 

Emergency action plans are especially necessary in laboratories. Plans should be prepared for response to situations such as fire, explosions, flooding, severe weather (tornadoes, hurricanes), earthquakes, medical emergencies, violent acts or threats of violence (e.g., bombs), and release of hazardous materials. Accidents at nearby locations such as adjacent laboratories and transportation facilities may affect the laboratory worker. According to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, the minimum elements of an emergency action plan include ... 

The standard requires each employer that falls under nrunber one or two above to develop and implement a written safety and health program which includes an emergency response plan (ERP). Those who fall under nrunber three must develop an ERP. An employer who will evacuate employees from the danger area when an emergency occurs, and who will not permit employees to assist with the emergency, is exempt from the ERP requirement if an emergency action plan is developed in accordance with 29 CFR 1926.35 is prepared. 

The best time is to prepare to respond to an emergency is before it happens. That s where OSHA s Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Standard, 29 CFR 1926.35, comes into play. The regulation requires an EAP if your site falls rmder another OSHA standard that requires an EAP. These OSHA standards include ... 

It may be a good idea to provide employees with adequate weather warning and address weather conditions in your emergency action plan. See 29 CFR 1926.35. 

CFR 1910.38 requires companies to have an emergency action plan in writing covering the following elements ... 

CFR 1910.157(g)(3) Employee who have beeai designated to use fire fighting equipment as mrt of the emergency action plan were not provided training in tiie use of the ipropriate equipment ... 

Every workplace where hazardous materials are used or produced is responsible for having a comprehensive emergency action plan that complies with OSHAs Standard on Emergency Plans and Fire Prevention Plans (29 CFR 1910.38). This emergency action plan must be readily available for implementation during emergency events. 

Use the following checklist as you are developing your written Emergency Action Plan (EAP), to ensure that you cover all of the areas necessary for compliance with 29 CFR 1910.38. 

The best way to prevent and control fires in the workplace is to institute a facility Fire Safety Program. Safety experts agree that the best way to reduce the possibility of fire in the workplace is prevention. For the facility safety official this begins with developing a fire prevention plan, which must be in writing and must list fire hazards and fire controls and specify the control jobs and personnel responsible and emergency actions to be taken. More specifically, in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, the elements that make up the plan must include the following ... 

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