EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN CHECKLIST

It is essential that the emergency action plan developed be site specific with respect to emergency
conditions evaluated, evacuation policies and procedures, emergency reporting mechanisms, and
alarm systems. To assist you in your planning, a checklist is provided that identifies issues that must
be considered when drafting a comprehensive emergency action plan. An explanation of each issue
and/or examples of how each issue might be addressed in typical workplaces is provided.

General Issues

Common sources of emergencies identified in

emergency action plans include - fires, explosions,
1. Does the plan consider all potential floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, toxic material releases,
natural or man-made emergencies that could radiological and biological accidents, civil disturbances
disrupt your workplace? and workplace violence.

Conduct a hazard assessment of the workplace to

2. Does the plan consider all potential identify any physical or chemical hazards that may
internal sources of emergencies that could exist and could cause an emergency.
disrupt your workplace?

3. Does the plan consider the impact of Brainstorm worst case scenarios asking yourself what
these internal and external emergencies on you would do and what would be the likely impact on
the workplace's operations and is the your operation and device appropriate responses.
response tailored to the workplace?

Keep your list of key contacts current and make

4. Does the plan contain a list of key provisions for an emergency communications system
personnel with contact information as well as such as a cellular phone, a portable radio unit, or other
contact information for local emergency means so that contact with local law enforcement, the
responders, agencies and contractors? fire department, and others can be swift.

List names and contact information for individuals

responsible for implementation of the plan.
5. Does the plan contain the names,
titles, departments, and telephone numbers
of individuals to contact for additional
information or an explanation of duties and

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 General Issues

responsibilities under the plan?

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general.bls-safetyworks@maine.gov
 Unless you are a large employer handling hazardous materials and
processes or have employees regularly working in hazardous
situations, you will probably choose to rely on local public resources,
6. Does the plan address such as the fire department, who are trained, equipped, and certified
how rescue operations will be to conduct rescues. Make sure any external department or agency
performed? identified in your plan is prepared to respond as outlined in your
plan. Untrained individuals may endanger themselves and those
they are trying to rescue.

Most small employers do not have a formal internal medical program

and make arrangements with medical clinics or facilities close by to
handle emergency cases and provide medical and first-aid services
to their employees. If an infirmary, clinic, or hospital is not close to
your workplace, ensure that onsite person(s) have adequate training
7. Does the plan address in first aid. The American Red Cross, some insurance providers,
how medical assistance will be local safety councils, fire departments, or other resources may be
provided? able to provide this training. Treatment of a serious injury should
begin within 3 to 4 minutes of the accident. Consult with a physician
to order appropriate first-aid supplies for emergencies. Establish a
relationship with a local ambulance service so transportation is
readily available for emergencies.

In the event of an emergency, it could be important to have ready

8. Does the plan identify access to important personal information about your employees.
how or where personal This includes their home telephone numbers, the names and
information on employees can telephone numbers of their next of kin, and medical information.
be obtained in an emergency?

Evacuation Policy and Procedures

The plan should identify the different types of situations

that will require an evacuation of the workplace. This
1. Does the plan identify the conditions might include a fire, earthquake, or chemical spill. The
under which an evacuation would be extent of evacuation may be different for different types
necessary? of hazards.
 It is common practice to select a responsible individual to lead
and coordinate your emergency plan and evacuation. It is
critical that employees know who the coordinator is and
2. Does the plan identify a clear understand that this person has the authority to make
chain of command and designate a decisions during emergencies. The coordinator should be
person authorized to order an responsible for assessing the situation to determine whether
evacuation or shutdown of an emergency exists requiring activation of the emergency
operations? procedures, overseeing emergency procedures, notifying and
coordinating with outside emergency services, and directing
shutdown of utilities or plant operations if necessary.

The plan may specify different actions for employees

3. Does the plan address the depending on the emergency. For example, employers may
types of actions expected of different want to have employees assemble in one area of the
employees for the various types of workplace if it is threatened by a tornado or earthquake but
potential emergencies? evacuate to an exterior location during a fire.

You may want to include in your plan locations where utilities

(such as electrical and gas utilities) can be shut down for all or
4. Does the plan designate who, if part of the facility. All individuals remaining behind to shut
anyone, will stay to shut down critical down critical systems or utilities must be capable of
operations during an evacuation? recognizing when to abandon the operation or task and
evacuate themselves.

Most employers create maps from floor diagrams with arrows

that designate the exit route assignments. These maps should
include locations of exits, assembly points and equipment
5. Does the plan outline specific (such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, spill kits) that may be
evacuation routes and exits and are needed in an emergency. Exit routes should be clearly marked
these posted in the workplace where and well lit, wide enough to accommodate the number of
they are easily accessible to all evacuating personnel, unobstructed and clear of debris at all
employees? times, and unlikely to expose evacuating personnel to
additional hazards.
 Many employers designate individuals as evacuation
wardens to help move employees from danger to safe
areas during an emergency. Generally, one warden for
every 20 employees should be adequate, and the
appropriate number of wardens should be available at all
times during working hours. Wardens may be responsible
for checking offices and bathrooms before being the last
6. Does the plan address procedures person to exit an area as well as ensuring that fire doors
for assisting people during evacuations, are closed when exiting. Employees designated to assist in
particularly those with disabilities or who emergency evacuation procedures should be trained in the
do not speak English? complete workplace layout and various alternative escape
routes. Employees designated to assist in emergencies
should be made aware of employees with special needs
(who may require extra assistance during an evacuation),
how to use the buddy system, and any hazardous areas to
avoid during an emergency evacuation.

Accounting for all employees following an evacuation is

critical. Confusion in the assembly areas can lead to delays
7. Does the plan identify one or more in rescuing anyone trapped in the building, or unnecessary
assembly areas (as necessary for and dangerous search-and-rescue operations. To ensure
different types of emergencies) where the fastest, most accurate accounting of your employees,
employees will gather and a method for consider taking a head count after the evacuation. The
accounting for all employees? names and last known locations of anyone not accounted
for should be passed on to the official in charge.

Some employers have all visitors and contractors sign in

8. Does the plan address how visitors when entering the workplace. The hosts and/or area
will be assisted in evacuation and wardens, if established, are often tasked with assisting
accounted for? these individuals evacuate safely.

Reporting Emergencies and Alerting Employees in an Emergency

Dialing 911 is a common method for reporting

emergencies if external responders are utilized.
Internal numbers may be used. Internal numbers are
1. Does the plan identify a preferred sometimes connected to intercom systems so that
method for reporting fires and other coded announcements may be made. In some cases
emergencies? employees are requested to activate manual pull
stations or other alarm systems.
 Make sure alarms are distinctive and recognized by all employees
as a signal to evacuate the work area or perform other actions
identified in your plan. Sequences of horn blows or different types
of alarms (bells, horns, etc.) can be used to signal different
responses or actions from employees. Consider making available
2. Does the plan describe the an emergency communications system, such as a public-address
method to be used to alert system, for broadcasting emergency information to employees.
employees, including disabled Ideally alarms will be able to be heard, seen, or otherwise
workers, to evacuate or take perceived by everyone in the workplace including those that may
other action? be blind or deaf. Otherwise floor wardens or others must be tasked
with ensuring all employees are notified. You might want to
consider providing an auxiliary power supply in the event of an
electrical failure.

Employee Training and Drills

Training should be offered employees when you

develop your initial plan and when new employees are
hired. Employees should be retrained when your plan
changes due to a change in the layout or design of the
facility, when new equipment, hazardous materials, or
processes are introduced that affect evacuation routes,
or when new types of hazards are introduced that
require special actions. General training for your
employees should address the following:

1. Does the plan identify how and when  Individual roles and responsibilities.
employees will be trained so that they  Threats, hazards, and protective actions.
understand the types of emergencies that  Notification, warning, and communications
may occur, their responsibilities and actions procedures.
as outlined in the plan?  Emergency response procedures.
 Evacuation, shelter, and accountability procedures.
 Location and use of common emergency
equipment.
 Emergency shutdown procedures.

You may also need to provide additional training to

your employees (i.e. first-aid procedures, portable fire
extinguisher use, etc.) depending on the
responsibilities allocated employees in your plan.
2. Does the plan address how and when If training is not reinforced it will be forgotten. Consider
retraining will be conducted? retaining employees annually.
 Once you have reviewed your emergency action plan with your employees
and everyone has had the proper training, it is a good idea to hold practice
3. Does the plan drills as often as necessary to keep employees prepared. Include outside
address if and how resources such as fire and police departments when possible. After each
often drills will be drill, gather management and employees to evaluate the effectiveness of
conducted? the drill. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your plan and work to
improve it.