Revision 12/06 Emergency action plan


Revision 12/06Purpose

____________ is dedicated to the protection of its employees from emergencies such as tornadoes and fires. When emergencies do occur, our Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is initiated. This EAP is in place to ensure employee safety from emergencies during regular hours and after hours. It provides a written document detailing and organizing the actions and procedures to be followed by employees in case of a workplace emergency.
OSHA’s Emergency Action Plan requirements, found at 1910.38, requires our company to have a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP). This plan applies to all operations in our company where employees may encounter an emergency situation.
The EAP communicates to employees, policies and procedures to follow in emergencies. This written plan is available, upon request, to employees, their designated representatives, and any OSHA officials who ask to see it.

Revision 12/06Administrative duties

____________ is the EAP administrator, who has overall responsibility for the plan. This responsibility includes the following:
  1. Developing and maintaining a written Emergency Action Plan for regular and after hours work conditions;
  2. Notifying the proper rescue and law enforcement authorities, and the building owner/ superintendent in the event of an emergency affecting the facility;
  3. Taking security measures to protect employees;
  4. Integrating the Emergency Action Plan with any existing general emergency plan covering the building or work area occupied;
  5. Distributing procedures for reporting emergencies, the location of safe exits, and evacuation routes to each employee;
  6. Conducting drills to acquaint employees with emergency procedures and to judge the effectiveness of the plan;
  7. Training designated employees in emergency response such as the use of fire extinguishers and the application of first aid;
  8. Deciding which emergency response to initiate (evacuate or not);
  9. Ensuring that equipment is placed and locked in storage rooms or desks for protection;
  10. Maintaining records and property as necessary; and
  11. Ensuring that our facility meets all local fire codes, building codes, and regulations.
____________ is responsible for reviewing and updating the plan as necessary. Copies of this plan may be obtained from ____________.
____________ has full authority to decide to implement the EAP if an emergency threatens human health. The following potential emergencies might reasonably be expected at this facility and thus call for the implementation of this EAP: ____________.
The following personnel can be contacted regarding further information about the written Emergency Action Plan or an explanation of duties under this plan: ____________.
Key management personnel home telephone numbers are kept in ____________ for immediate use in the event of an emergency. These telephone numbers include:
  • Key management member: ____________.
  • Telephone number: ____________.
  • Cell/wireless number: ____________.
These contact numbers have been distributed to the following persons to be retained in their homes for use in communicating an emergency occurring during non-work hours:
  • Name: ____________.
  • Title: ____________.
Our facility houses several places of employment, so we have set up a building-wide EAP including all employers in the building. ____________ has informed its employees of their duties and responsibilities under the plan. The standardized plan is kept by ____________ and is accessible by affected employees at ____________.
We encourage suggestions to improve the plan because we are committed to its success. We strive for clear understanding, safe behavior, and involvement in the program from every level of the company.

Revision 12/06Alarms

Different emergencies require different alarms to indicate what actions employees should take. Our company has established an employee alarm system. We have fewer than 10 employees, therefore we use direct voice communication as our means for alarming employees of an emergency. We will use the tornado alarm to warn employees of tornado ____________.
Because we use a communication system as an alarm system, all emergency messages have priority over all non-emergency messages.
We have posted the following emergency telephone numbers near telephones, or emergency notice boards, and other conspicuous locations for use when telephones serve as a means of reporting emergencies:
  • Emergency responder: _____________.
  • Telephone number: _____________.

Revision 12/06Emergency reporting and weather monitoring procedures

Evacuation emergency: When employees detect an emergency that requires an evacuation, such as a fire or hazardous release, they should ____________. ____________ will notify the ____________ Fire Department.
Our backup method for reporting emergencies that require evacuation includes the following: ____________.
Tornado emergency: We monitor tornadoes by ____________.
Our backup method for monitoring tornadoes includes the following: ____________.
Other emergency reporting or weather monitoring procedures include: ____________.

Revision 12/06Evacuation procedures

Some emergencies may require evacuation or escape procedures, while others require employees to stay indoors, or in a safe area. Our emergency escape procedures are designed to respond to many potential emergencies, depending on the degree of seriousness. Nothing in these procedures precludes the Plan Administrator’s authority in determining whether employees should remain inside or evacuate.
At this company, the following types of emergency evacuations exist: ____________.
Our emergency evacuation procedures and assignments are designed to respond to many potential emergencies that require them, including: ____________.
Employees need to know what to do if they are alerted to a specific emergency. After an alarm is sounded to evacuate, employees should take the following steps: ____________.
See the appendices to this plan for the building plans with exit route assignments for each group evacuating an area or building.
Once evacuated, employees are to move directly to their designated exterior or safe area, where a head count will be performed, and further instructions given. Following is a list of exterior refuges/safe zones:
  • Departmental group: __________.
  • Designated safe area: __________.
  • Head count responsibility: __________.

Revision 12/06Procedures to account for employees

Trained evacuation personnel assist in safe and orderly evacuation for all types of emergencies that require evacuation. Once evacuation is complete, they conduct head counts. The employees selected are trained in the complete workplace layout and the various alternative escape routes from the workplace.
Before leaving, these employees check rooms and other enclosed spaces in the workplace for employees who may be trapped or otherwise unable to evacuate the area. Trained and authorized personnel are:
  • Name/title: ____________.
  • Department: ____________.
  • Shift: ____________.
This list indicates a sufficient number of employees who have been designated by the company and trained to direct and assist in safe and orderly emergency evacuation; provide guidance and instruction for all types of emergency situations; be aware of employees with special needs who may require extra assistance; use the buddy system, and avoid hazardous areas during an emergency evacuation.
The list of trained personnel includes at least one person from every area for every shift. This means that every trained evacuation person is responsible for seeing to approximately ____________ evacuated employees. The trained personnel also serve as a resource of information about emergency procedures and conduct head counts once evacuation is complete.
Frontline supervisors must be aware of the locations of those employees working on a particular day when an emergency occurs, as well as suppliers, customers, and other non-employees on the premises, when an emergency occurs, and be aware of who is absent or otherwise away from the premises.
Accounting for employees and non-employees will aid local responding fire/rescue departments in determining whether rescue efforts are necessary. We have described each frontline supervisor’s employee/non-employees tracking method below:
  • Name of supervisor: ____________.
  • Department: ____________.
  • Shift: ____________.
  • Tracking method: ____________.
Each department reports to their respective representative using the following procedure: ____________.
Once each evacuated group of employees have reached their evacuation destinations, each trained evacuation employee:
  • Takes roll of his or her group,
  • Makes sure all persons are accounted for,
  • Reports in to a central checkpoint managed by ____________, and
  • Assumes role of department contact to answer questions.
Head count results should be given to the ____________ Fire Chief or firefighter, if requested.
Other duties provided by the trained personnel during an emergency evacuation include the following: ____________.
No employees are to return to the buildings until advised by ____________ or designee (after determination has been made that such re-entry is safe). If anyone is injured or contaminated, the Plan Administrator will activate rescue and first aid actions. If an emergency incident expands, the EAP Administrator may send employees home by normal means or provide them with transportation to an offsite location.

Revision 12/06Non-evacuation emergency procedures

____________ has the following non-evacuation procedures: ____________.
Tornado emergency: In the event of a tornado, it is corporate policy to provide emergency warning and shelter. Once employees are made aware of a tornado situation, they are to follow these procedures: ____________.
Employees should stay away from windows, but stay inside the building they are in. The following is a table with shelter assignments listed:
  • Group/Department: ____________.
  • Assigned shelter: ____________.
Employees are not to leave the shelter or return to their regular duties until the all clear is given. ____________ will determine when it is safe for employees to leave their tornado shelter and return to work. At that time, the Plan Administrator will ____________.
If anyone is injured or contaminated, the Plan Administrator will activate rescue and first aid actions. If there is structural damage, the Plan Administrator will ____________.

Revision 12/06Critical operations

Our company has critical operations that cannot be shut down for emergencies. These operations include the following: ____________.
The employees who are designated to remain behind during evacuation to care for critical plant operations include the following:
  • Name (or title): ____________.
  • Department: ____________.
  • Plan system operated: ____________.
The procedures to be taken by those employees who have been selected to remain behind to care for essential plant operations until their evacuation becomes absolutely necessary include the following: ____________.

Revision 12/06Plan administrator duties

During an emergency, ____________ will do the following: ____________.

Revision 12/06Rescue and first aid

Rescue and first aid may be necessary during emergency situations. Circumstances calling for rescue and/or first aid include:
  • Circumstances: ____________.
  • Procedures: ____________.
Emergency Response Team (ERT) members are responsible for performing rescue duties in case of an emergency requiring rescue. Members of the ERT include:
  • Name (or title): ____________.
  • Department: ____________.
  • Shift: ____________.
Designated first aid responders are to provide first aid assistance within their capabilities to employees requiring it during emergency situations. Appropriate first aid supplies have been provided. Designated first aid responders include the following individuals:
  • Name (or title): ____________.
  • Department: ____________.
  • Shift: ____________.
Professional emergency services responding in an emergency will help with and direct all rescue and medical duty assignments upon their arrival on site.

Revision 12/06Training

Our Plan Administrator reviews the Emergency Action Plan with each of our employees at the following times:
  • Initially when the plan is developed,
  • Whenever a new employee is hired,
  • Whenever the employee is assigned initially to a job,
  • Whenever an employee’s responsibilities or designated actions under the plan change,
  • Whenever new equipment, materials, or processes are introduced into the workplace,
  • Whenever the layout or design or the facility changes, and
  • Whenever the plan is changed.
The training includes the following: ____________.
The information in this plan is not intended for casual reading, but is intended to get the appropriate message across. We present the material for training in the following manner: ____________.
We communicate the contents of this plan through a briefing delivered by supervisors followed by a demonstration and through a presentation followed by a drill.
____________ performs drills for the following emergencies: ____________.
We hold these drills at least ____________.
After a drill, the Plan Administrator judges the effectiveness of the plan and reviews any employee input concerning the drill. Employees performing the drill may identify something that did not follow procedure or was ineffective.
For example, they may discover doors that would not open; they may enter storage closets instead of exiting; they may get lost and confused or they may carry a suspicious package through the facility. These are the types of things the Plan Administrator needs to hear about after a drill. That way, they can be addressed before a real emergency.

Revision 12/06Emergency equipment and support

Our company provides the following equipment and support for use by our trained personnel during emergencies: ____________.

Revision 12/06Appendices

Employees designated to remain behind to operate critical plant operations during an emergency include the following: ____________.
The types of emergency action plans we have at this facility include the following: ____________.
We have attached the following documents for reference to ensure a better understanding of our written program: ____________.

Hearing Conservation Program | Occupational Noise Exposure


Administration

This written hearing conservation plan serves as a record of the details of the hearing conservation program in place at this company. We have this program in place to protect the hearing of all employees in the company. Elements of our hearing conservation program include:
  • Monitoring,
  • Audiometric testing program,
  • Hearing protection,
  • Training and information, and
  • Recordkeeping.
______ has overall responsibility for coordinating safety and health programs in this company. ______ is the person having overall responsibility for the Hearing Conservation Program. ______ will review and update the program, as necessary.
Copies of the written program may be obtained from ______.

Monitoring

The monitoring program is in place to provide an ongoing means of determining employee exposure to noise and protect employees based on excessive exposure. When monitoring information indicates that any em-ployee’s exposure equals or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employee is included in the hearing conservation program.
To determine employee exposure to noise, we use the following type of calibrated equipment: ______. The company notifies all employees exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels of the results of the monitoring by the following method. ____________________________________.
The company provides an opportunity in the following way for affected employees or their representatives to observe any noise measurements conducted: __________________________________________.
Appropriate hearing devices are selected for employees in the Hearing Conservation Program by the following method: ___________________________________________________________________.
Monitoring is repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment, or controls increases noise exposures to the extent that either additional employees may be exposed at or above the action level or the attenuation provided by hearing protectors being used by employees may be rendered inadequate to meet the requirements of noise reduction.
The audiometric testing program is in place and available at no cost to all affected employees to ensure that noise exposures are kept at proper levels.

Audiometric testing

The program ensures that a valid baseline audiogram is established for exposed employees within six months of their first exposure (or within one year if mobile vans are used, with employees wearing hearing protection for any period exceeding six months) by the following method: ______________________________.
Audiometric testing is repeated __________________________________________________.
The company determines if a standard threshold shift (STS) has occurred by ________________________.
If subsequent audiometric testing of an employee whose exposure to noise is less than an 8-hour TWA of 90 decibels indicates that a standard threshold shift is not persistent, the company informs the employee of the new audiometric interpretation by ______________________________________________________ and discontinues the required use of hearing protectors for that employee.

Hearing protection

The company makes hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels or greater at no cost to the employees, according to the following procedures: ________________________.
The company ensures the use of available hearing protection by all affected employees by: ____________.
The company ensures that employees have a variety of suitable protectors that attenuate (lower) employee exposure at least to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 90 decibels, or 85 decibels or lower for employees who have experienced a standard threshold shift in their hearing, according to the following method: ______.
Appropriate hearing protectors available for employees to choose from include: __________________.
The company ensures evaluation for adequacy of the hearing protection attenuation for the specific noise environments in which the protector will be used, according to specifications given in an appendix to the standard, by: ____________________________________.
The company reevaluates attenuation whenever employee noise exposures increase to the extent that current hearing protectors no longer provide adequate attenuation, and then provides more effective hearing protection, according to the following method: __________________________________________.

Training and information

______ has a hearing protection training program for all employees exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
We ensure employee participation in the hearing protection training program by: __________________.
Copies of the Occupational Noise Exposure standard are available to affected employees or their representatives.We also post copies of the standard in the following location(s): __________________ ______________________________________________________________________.
Refresher training is provided ______. We ensure that the training material is updated to be consistent with changes in the protective equipment and work processes by: ______________________________________.
According to the following method: _______________________________________________, we ensure that each affected employee is informed of at least the following information:
  • The effects of noise on hearing;
  • The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care; and
  • The purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of test procedures.
We also make informational materials pertaining to the Occupational Noise Exposure standard that are supplied by OSHA available to affected employees or their representatives by: __________________.

Recordkeeping

Recordkeeping is an essential element of our Hearing Conservation Program. It is the means by which hearing levels are tracked and assessed over a period of years. ______ has in place measures to maintain comprehensive and up-to-date records.
______ maintains accurate records of:
  • Employee exposure measurements by: ______________________________.
  • Employee audiometric test records by: ______________________________.
The company retains noise exposure measurement records and audiometric test records as required by OSHA. These records are made available to employees, former employees, representatives designated by the individual employee, and OSHA upon request, according to the following method: _________.

Program Evaluation Checklist | Occupational Noise Exposure


Use the following NIOSH checklist to evaluate your hearing conservation program.

Training and education

Failures or deficiencies in hearing conservation programs (hearing loss prevention programs) can often be traced to inadequacies in the training and education of noise-exposed employees and those who conduct elements of the program.
  1. Has training been conducted at least once a year?
  2. Was the training provided by a qualified instructor?
  3. Was the success of each training program evaluated?
  4. Is the content revised periodically?
  5. Are managers and supervisors directly involved?
  6. Are posters, regulations, handouts, and employee newsletters used as supplements?
  7. Are personal counseling sessions conducted for employees having problems with hearing protection devices or showing hearing threshold shifts?

Supervisor involvement

Data indicate that employees who refuse to wear hearing protectors or who fail to show up for hearing tests frequently work for supervisors who are not totally committed to the hearing loss prevention programs.
  1. Have supervisors been provided with the knowledge required to supervise the use and care of hearing protectors by subordinates?
  2. Do supervisors wear hearing protectors in appropriate areas?
  3. Have supervisors been counseled when employees resist wearing protectors or fail to show up for hearing tests?
  4. Are disciplinary actions enforced when employees repeatedly refuse to wear hearing protectors?

Noise measurement

For noise measurements to be useful, they need to be related to noise exposure risks or the prioritization of noise control efforts, rather than merely filed away. In addition, the results need to be communicated to the appropriate personnel, especially when follow-up actions are required.
  1. Were the essential/critical noise studies performed?
  2. Was the purpose of each noise study clearly stated? Have noise-exposed employees been notified of their exposures and appraised of auditory risks?
  3. Are the results routinely transmitted to supervisors and other key individuals?
  4. Are results entered into health/medical records of noise exposed employees?
  5. Are results entered into shop folders?
  6. If noise maps exist, are they used by the proper staff?
  7. Are noise measurement results considered when contemplating procurement of new equipment? Modifying the facility? Relocating employees?
  8. Have there been changes in areas, equipment, or processes that have altered noise exposure? Have follow-up noise measurements been conducted?
  9. Are appropriate steps taken to include (or exclude) employees in the hearing loss prevention programs whose exposures have changed significantly?

Engineering and administrative controls

Controlling noise by engineering and administrative methods is often the most effective means of reducing or eliminating the hazard. In some cases engineering controls will remove requirements for other components of the program, such as audiometric testing and the use of hearing protectors.
  1. Have noise control needs been prioritized?
  2. Has the cost-effectiveness of various options been addressed?
  3. Are employees and supervisors appraised of plans for noise control measures? Are they consulted on various approaches?
  4. Will in-house resources or outside consultants perform the work?
  5. Have employees and supervisors been counseled on the operation and maintenance of noise control devices?
  6. Are noise control projects monitored to ensure timely completion?
  7. Has the full potential for administrative controls been evaluated? Are noisy processes conducted during shifts with fewer employees? Do employees have sound-treated lunch or break areas?

Monitoring audiometry and recordkeeping

The skills of audiometric technicians, the status of the audiometer, and the quality of audiometric test records are crucial to hearing loss prevention program success. Useful information may be ascertained from the audiometric records as well as from those who actually administer the tests.
  1. Has the audiometric technician been adequately trained, certified, and recertified as necessary?
  2. Do on-the-job observations of the technicians indicate that they perform a thorough and valid audiometric test, instruct and consult the employee effectively, and keep appropriate records?
  3. Are records complete?
  4. Are follow-up actions documented?
  5. Are hearing threshold levels reasonably consistent from test to test? If not, are the reasons for inconsistencies investigated promptly?
  6. Are the annual test results compared to baseline to identify the presence of an OSHA standard threshold shift?
  7. Is the annual incidence of standard threshold shift greater than a few percent? If so, are problem areas pinpointed and remedial steps taken?
  8. Are audiometric trends (deteriorations) being identified, both in individuals and in groups of employees? (NIOSH recommends no more than 5% of workers showing 15 dB Significant Threshold Shift, same ear, same frequency.)
  9. Do records show that appropriate audiometer calibration procedures have been followed?
  10. Is there documentation showing that the background sound levels in the audiometer room were low enough to permit valid testing?
  11. Are the results of audiometric tests being communicated to supervisors and managers as well as to employees?
  12. Has corrective action been taken if the rate of no-shows for audiometric test appointments is more than about 5%?
  13. Are employees incurring STS notified in writing within at least 21 days? (NIOSH recommends immediate notification if retest shows 15 dB Significant Threshold Shift, same ear, same frequency.)

Referrals

Referrals to outside sources for consultation or treatment are sometimes in order, but they can be an expen-sive element of the hearing loss prevention program, and should not be undertaken unnecessarily.
  1. Are referral procedures clearly specified?
  2. Have letters of agreement between the company and consulting physicians or audiologists been executed?
  3. Have mechanisms been established to ensure that employees needing evaluation or treatment actually receive the service (i.e., transportation, scheduling, reminders)?
  4. Are records properly transmitted to the physician or audiologist, and back to the company?
  5. If medical treatment is recommended, does the employee understand the condition requiring treatment, the recommendation, and methods of obtaining such treatment?
  6. Are employees being referred unnecessarily?

Hearing protection devices

When noise control measures are infeasible, or until such time as they are installed, hearing protection devices are the only way to prevent hazardous levels of noise from damaging the inner ear. Making sure that these devices are worn effectively requires continuous attention on the part of supervisors and program implementers as well as noise-exposed employees.
  1. Have hearing protectors been made available to all employees whose daily average noise exposures are 85 dBA or above? (NIOSH recommends requiring HPD use if noises equal or exceed 85 dBA regardless of exposure time.)
  2. Are employees given the opportunity to select from a variety of appropriate protectors?
  3. Are employees fitted carefully with special attention to comfort?
  4. Are employees thoroughly trained, not only initially but at least once a year?
  5. Are the protectors checked regularly for wear or defects, and replaced immediately if necessary?
  6. If employees use disposable hearing protectors, are replacements readily available?
  7. Do employees understand the appropriate hygiene requirements?
  8. Have any employees developed ear infections or irritations associated with the use of hearing protectors? Are there any employees who are unable to wear these devices because of medical conditions? Have these conditions been treated promptly and successfully?
  9. Have alternative types of hearing protectors been considered when problems with current devices are experienced?
  10. Do employees who incur noise-induced hearing loss receive intensive counseling?
  11. Are those who fit and supervise the wearing of hearing protectors competent to deal with the many problems that can occur?
  12. Do workers complain that protectors interfere with their ability to do their jobs? Do they interfere with spoken instructions or warning signals? Are these complaints followed promptly with counseling, noise control, or other measures?
  13. Are employees encouraged to take their hearing protectors home if they engage in noisy non-occupational activities?
  14. Are new types of or potentially more effective protectors considered as they become available?
  15. Is the effectiveness of the hearing protector program evaluated regularly?
  16. Have at-the-ear protection levels been evaluated to ensure that either over or under protection has been adequately balanced according to the anticipated ambient noise levels?
  17. Is each hearing protector user required to demonstrate that he or she understands how to use and care for the protector? The results documented?

Administrative

Keeping organized and current on administrative matters will help the program run smoothly.
  1. Have there been any changes in federal or state regulations? Have hearing loss prevention pro-gram’s policies been modified to reflect these changes?
  2. Are copies of company policies and guidelines regarding the hearing loss prevention program available in the offices that support the various program elements? Are those who implement the program elements aware of these policies? Do they comply?
  3. Are necessary materials and supplies being ordered with a minimum of delay?
  4. Are procurement officers overriding the hearing loss prevention program implementer’s requests for specific hearing protectors or other hearing loss prevention equipment? If so, have corrective steps been taken?
  5. Is the performance of key personnel evaluated periodically? If such performance is found to be less than acceptable, are steps taken to correct the situation?
  6. Safety: Has the failure to hear warning shouts or alarms been tied to any accidents or injuries? If so, have remedial steps been taken?

Popular Posts