Responding to Emergencies in the Workplace
Table of Contents
How to prepare for workplace emergencies: supplies, training and policies
How to stay calm during a workplace emergency
Following the plans and recording your response
Resolving an emergency
Common types of workplace emergencies
Legal requirements and compliance
Post-emergency actions: how to resolve and report workplace incidents
Checklist: what to include in your emergency response plan
Final Thoughts: automating and improving emergency response with Safetyline
Lone Worker FAQs
During a workplace emergency, seconds can make the difference between life – or death.
If an accident happens in the workplace, it could be your responsibility to provide help and save those precious seconds. In this article, we’ll look at ways you can prepare your team and help your employees during an emergency at work.
How to prepare for workplace emergencies: supplies, training and policies
It's important to prepare for emergencies ahead of time. Medical supplies should be available, and there should be a plan for each workplace emergency.
You and your employees should receive first aid training. If employees are working alone, a work-alone safety policy should be prepared. Safety drills will help people respond quickly and confidently when the time comes.
Have a list of emergency contacts available for your employees and emergency phone numbers stored on your devices. Your contacts should also include local emergency service numbers. If your company uses a safety service, save their contact so that you’ll be ready to respond.
It’s impossible to prepare for all emergencies, but with practice and planning, employees will be able to stay calm.
How to stay calm during a workplace emergency
It’s easier said than done, but staying calm during an emergency is the best way to make sure that the right choices are made. The person who needs help will be better served by someone who has their head in the right place.
Some calming techniques experts recommend include breathing, visualization, and muscle relaxation exercises. Taking the time to slow down during an emergency could lead to a quicker response if you make better choices.
During an emergency, stress can lead to human error. One way to stop mistakes during emergency response is to automate your safety. An automated safety system will call for help when an employee cannot and escalate an emergency if the contact is unable to respond. By removing the human element, you can ensure that as tensions rise, mistakes won’t.
Like anything in the workplace, an emergency response often becomes a team effort. You’ll need to be ready to coordinate your response with others.
Following the plans and recording your response
As part of planning a coordinated emergency response, you’ll want to have a set of instructions available and a way to record a response. When it comes to the time to respond to an emergency, the response process should be as simple as possible.
Workplace emergencies create a hectic and stressful environment. Recording the response can help to coordinate everyone's efforts. If an employee is missing, the recorded response can be given to the police or emergency services so that its clear what steps have been taken.
Automated safety monitoring systems can provide custom instructions and record responses during emergencies. Recorded responses are not only useful during an emergency; they can be used to create an emergency report. Having all the facts can help to prevent the same emergency from happening again in the future.
Planning emergencies is only useful if everyone follows the same, consistent plans. Keeping a detailed record will also help plan for future emergency scenarios.
Resolving an emergency
An emergency response begins with planning, and it doesn’t end until a follow-up is complete. Depending on the type of emergency that has taken place, the resolution can take many forms.
In the event that an emergency is a false alarm, your resolution may begin by confirming that all employees are safe. Following real emergencies, you’ll want to make sure that injured employees have received medical attention and make decisions around work stoppages.
Record any steps that were taken during the emergency resolution, and make sure to note any details that could help an investigation. If you’re using an automated safety system, you should generate a report showing how events transpired.
Resolving an emergency means that you’ll have data to work off during your next safety planning.
Common types of workplace emergencies
Another element that supports emergency planning is awareness of the common types of emergencies that may occur in the workplace. Depending on your worksite or work environment, common potential occupational emergencies include fires, medical issues or incidents, working alone and in isolation, violence and assault, as well as natural and weather disasters.
Legal requirements and compliance
North American employers are legally required to protect their employees in an emergency according to occupational safety regulations and industry-specific standards. This includes compliance with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations and guidelines, which require employers to identify safety hazards, to implement safety measures for their workers, and to maintain proper documentation for safety compliance.
Additionally, depending on your industry, there may be further safety standards or safety requirements to satisfy compliance, such as those for home healthcare, utilities and non-profit work.
Post-emergency actions: how to resolve and report workplace incidents
An emergency response begins with planning, and it doesn’t end until a follow-up is complete. Depending on the type of emergency that has taken place, the resolution can take many forms.
In the event that an emergency is a false alarm, your resolution may begin by confirming that all employees are safe. Following real emergencies, you’ll want to make sure that injured employees have received medical attention and make decisions around work stoppages.
Record any steps that were taken during the emergency resolution, and make sure to note any details that could help an investigation. If you’re using an automated safety system, you should generate a report showing how events transpired.
Resolving an emergency means that you’ll have useful data to work off for your next safety planning; it will provide valuable insight for future safety planning.
Checklist: what to include in your emergency response plan
Emergency procedures: Clear actions for various emergencies, including evacuation and procedures for specific hazards.
Evacuation: Provide clear evacuation directions and routes, meeting points, and procedures.
Emergency communications: Detail how to warn employees, alert emergency services and communicate between management, employees, and external responders/safety monitors.
First aid and medical response: Information on first aid supplies, required personal protective equipment (PPE), and if safety training is up to date.
Roles and responsibilities: Clearly define the duties of all employees during an emergency.
A bulleted list of essential items: Create a customized list of items needed for your specific worksite and circumstances. For example, face masks, phone chargers or extra blankets.
Final Thoughts: automating and improving emergency response with SafetyLine
Effective emergency responses need a lot of preparation and coordination, but they don’t have to be full-time jobs. By automating your emergency response using a software solution like SafetyLine, you can ensure that the proper steps are taken every time.
SafetyLine will help you plan your emergency responses to ensure the right people know when someone needs help. By providing a simple emergency response interface, SafetyLine will help you stay calm and let others know what you’ve done to help. After an emergency, SafetyLine provides custom reports showing a full event timeline, making record-keeping and emergency resolution simple.
For workers facing a variety of dangers, SafetyLine provides a custom call-out based on area or job type. SafetyLine also provides custom instructions for monitors to follow, meaning that when someone needs help, the right people are provided the right instructions.
Effective emergency responses rely on thorough preparation and coordination. Use our lone worker safety solution app to improve your emergency protocols and explore our pricing options. Visit our FAQ page for more details and discover the benefits of our solutions.
Discover how SafetyLine can simplify your emergency response.
Lone Worker FAQs
What is a lone worker and why do they need special safety measures?
A lone worker is someone who performs job duties without direct supervision or coworkers nearby. Because they work alone, they face unique risks—such as delayed emergency response—making specialized safety protocols essential.
How does SafetyLine work during an emergency?
If a lone worker cannot respond or call for help, SafetyLine automatically triggers alerts to designated contacts and provides step-by-step instructions for responders. This reduces human error and ensures timely assistance.
How can employers ensure lone worker safety?
Employers should implement a lone worker policy, provide training, and use monitoring tools like SafetyLine. These tools automate check-ins, escalate alerts, and provide emergency instructions to ensure timely assistance.
What should a lone worker do in an emergency?
Follow the company’s emergency response plan, use any provided safety app or device to alert supervisors, and contact emergency services if possible. Automated systems can help when the worker cannot call for help themselves.
Does SafetyLine help with compliance and record-keeping?
Absolutely. SafetyLine logs all emergency events and responses, creating detailed reports for audits, investigations, and future safety planning. This helps meet regulatory requirements and improve workplace safety protocols.