Creating an Emergency Action Plan for at-Risk Employees
Table of Contents
Creating an Emergency Action Plan for at-Risk Employees
What is an emergency action plan?
How does an emergency action plan benefit your workplace?
Emergency Preparedness for Your Lone Workers
Conclusion & Practical Tips for an Emergency Action Plan for Your Organization
When a workplace experiences an emergency and their employees are in danger, how quickly and efficiently the employer response can significantly impact the safety outcome if they can go home at the end of the day. To ensure that you can act swiftly and strategically in a workplace crisis, employers must develop an emergency action plan customized to their specific operational and safety requirements.
What is an emergency action plan?
Most Occupational Health and Safety legislation requires some form of an emergency action plan from local employers, such as in the United States, where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces these safety standards such as standard 1910.38 Exit Routes and Emergency Planning.
In Canada, depending on the province or territory, emergency planning requirements can vary and may not specify the necessity of an emergency response plan. However, it can fall under the Canadian OHS legislation that requires employers to practice due diligence, taking all reasonable precautions to prevent accidents in their work environment.
The OSHA says that emergency response plans for American workers must, at a minimum, include the following elements:
Channels for employees to report fires and other emergencies
Emergency escape route assignments and evacuation procedures
Procedures for employees and workers who will stay at the worksite to continue critical plant operations
Accounting and attendance system for employees following an emergency evacuation
Any rescue and medical duties required from employees
Names, job titles, and other relevant information for designated emergency contacts
How does an emergency action plan benefit your workplace?
The simple answer is that it proactively has a response structure that can be followed during very stressful circumstances. The long answer, however, is a little more complex. An emergency action plan will coordinate several preplanned, detailed safety procedures and roles that will allow you to respond with as little injury and property damage as possible.
Through the recommended key elements above, employers can create an effective plan that is simple to implement under stressful situations. An emergency action plan will benefit the employees and organization in several meaningful ways, including:
Reduced number of accidents
Increased peace of mind and safety with the workers and employer
Reduced severity of injuries after accidents
Reduced damage to property, infrastructure, buildings, and equipment
Faster return to normal operations following the emergency
Increased protection for the surrounding public and environment
Increased compliance with local OHS legislation and regulations
Increased safety-related engagement and communication between the employer and employees
Emergency Preparedness for Your Lone Workers
In particular, an emergency response plan is incredibly important for lone workers. These people may work in environments where help is not readily available should they need it in an emergency. Due to these circumstances, lone workers can face different safety hazards than pairs or teams, requiring different safety measures and solutions.
Along with an emergency plan, lone workers can be protected through non-invasive safety monitoring technology that will aid the response with accurate GPS location tracking and life-saving motion features that can detect harmful impacts and falls.
Conclusion & Practical Tips for an Emergency Action Plan for Your Organization
So now that the many benefits and reasons for an emergency action plan have been established, you must look at how to develop the best plan for your organization.
Hazard or vulnerability assessment
The first step you must take is to conduct a thorough hazard assessment that identifies all the potential dangers your workers face. This evaluation will note all of the vulnerabilities in the workplace, allowing the employer to mitigate the hazards properly and promptly.
Look to the past to improve the future
Nobody can predict an emergency, but employers have hindsight, allowing them to look back at past safety records, and learning from these experiences, so they do not occur again.
Remote worker emergency plan
If any of your employees work alone and in places where help is not readily available, create an emergency response plan or section to accommodate the special safety needs of remote work.
Create a culture of safety
Any successful emergency response plan has a cohesive team and safety culture. It is up to the employers to foster a workplace and environment where employees feel safe to speak up about OHS issues without fear of repercussions from both the employer and coworkers.
Establish your emergency contacts
When creating a truly effective plan, it is imperative the best employees and people are designated as emergency contacts within the protocols and action steps. Ensure the emergency assignees’ contact information is regularly updated or as needed.
Consider external personnel
Your workplace may have people from outside the organization or industry present and therefore also vulnerable to some OHS risks. If so, in your plan, make sure these people are considered.
Gather the right supplies
Depending on your circumstances and safety hazards, there may be a list of supplies needed for your emergency response. When developing this list, ensure everyone involved is consulted and can provide feedback.
Employers should not rush through the emergency plan development, allocating more than enough time for research and consultation. Set a deadline but make it flexible so that your final product is a meticulous and comprehensive plan, saving lives down the road.