Every workplace, whether it’s an office or a construction site or a patient’s home, has its own safety hazards and risks facing the workers and team members. Emergencies are more likely to take place when these safety hazards are not addressed, increasing the potential for an incident to take place that could harm and even kill an employee. In many cases, emergencies could have been prevented, or at least mitigated, through proactive planning and assessment of existing and potential safety hazards threatening the team.

In the event of an actual emergency, overly complex and untested plans can be deficient and ineffective, endangering the lives of employees and potentially contributing to an escalating emergency situation. Below is a list of commonly exhibited emergency response plan pitfalls that are associated with inadequate responses.