Emergency Action Plans

The Emergency Action Plans course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals teaches safety professionals, facility managers, and emergency coordinators how to develop, document, implement, communicate, drill, and maintain emergency action plans that meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 requirements and align with NFPA 1600 (Standard on Continuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management). This course covers every dimension of workplace emergency preparedness: hazard-specific emergency scenarios (fire, chemical spill, natural disaster, medical emergency, active threat), evacuation system design, alarm and communication systems, emergency role assignments, drill planning and evaluation, emergency services coordination, and the ongoing plan review that ensures preparedness evolves as the workplace changes.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 requires every employer with more than 10 employees to have a written emergency action plan. But regulatory compliance is the minimum the real question is whether the plan actually works when an emergency occurs. Most EAPs fail not because they are missing from the file cabinet but because workers do not know what the plan says, evacuation routes have not been practised, alarm systems are not understood, emergency roles have not been assigned to specific people, medical response capabilities have not been verified, and the plan has never been tested through realistic drills. This course addresses every one of these failure modes by building the complete emergency preparedness competency from plan development through drill evaluation.

The curriculum covers the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 minimum elements (evacuation procedures, escape route assignments, employee notification procedures, reporting procedures, employee accounting after evacuation, rescue and medical duties, and plan contact information), expanded with NFPA 1600 best practices for hazard-specific response planning, Incident Command System (ICS) awareness, emergency communication systems, drill design using tabletop exercises and full-scale simulations, post-drill evaluation and improvement, fire prevention plan integration per 29 CFR 1910.39, and the coordination with local fire departments, EMS, and law enforcement that ensures external response is integrated with the facility’s plan.

All training is delivered 100 percent online through Microsoft Teams and the American Institute of Safety Professionals Learning Management System (LMS). Upon successful completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, professional wallet card, and official transcript, all employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

Upon completing the EAP program, participants will be able to:

• Develop written emergency action plans that meet all OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 minimum elements: evacuation procedures and escape route assignments, methods for reporting emergencies, employee alarm systems, employee accounting procedures after evacuation, rescue and medical duties, and plan contact information.
• Conduct facility-specific hazard assessments to identify the emergency scenarios the EAP must address: fire, explosion, chemical release, natural disaster (earthquake, tornado, flood, severe weather), medical emergency, utility failure, and active threat/workplace violence.
• Design evacuation systems: primary and secondary escape routes, assembly areas, headcount procedures, shelter-in-place protocols, elevator shutdown procedures, and the provisions for employees with disabilities or mobility limitations.
• Design and document fire prevention plans per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.39: fire hazard identification, fire protection equipment and systems, housekeeping procedures for combustible accumulation, and employee responsibilities for fire prevention.
• Establish emergency communication systems: alarm types and meanings (evacuation alarm, shelter-in-place, all-clear), public address systems, mass notification, two-way radio protocols, and the communication cascade from incident discovery through emergency services notification to all-clear.
• Assign and train emergency roles: floor wardens, evacuation team leaders, search-and-rescue team members (where applicable), first aid responders, emergency coordinators, and the chain of command that operates during an emergency.
• Apply Incident Command System (ICS) awareness: the basic ICS structure (Incident Commander, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Admin), unified command for multi-agency response, and how the facility’s internal emergency structure interfaces with arriving emergency services.
• Design and conduct emergency drills: tabletop exercises (discussion-based), functional exercises (partial activation), and full-scale drills (complete evacuation or shelter-in-place). Define drill objectives, observe performance, document results, and identify improvement actions.
• Coordinate with external emergency services: pre-incident planning with local fire departments, providing facility pre-plans (site maps, hazardous materials locations, utility shutoff locations, water supply), and establishing mutual aid agreements where applicable.
• Maintain and update the EAP: scheduled review cycles, updates triggered by facility changes (new processes, new construction, new hazards), post-incident plan revision, and the documentation that demonstrates ongoing compliance.

Core Curriculum Topics

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 Requirements: element-by-element compliance guidance for emergency action plans
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.39 Integration: fire prevention plan development and its relationship to the EAP
• Facility Hazard Assessment for Emergency Planning: identifying the specific emergency scenarios your facility must plan for
• Evacuation System Design: routes, assembly areas, headcount, shelter-in-place, disability provisions, and the engineering of safe egress
• Emergency Communication and Alarm Systems: alarm types, PA systems, mass notification, radio protocols, and communication cascade design
• Emergency Role Assignment and Training: floor wardens, evacuation leaders, first aid responders, emergency coordinators, and chain of command
• Incident Command System (ICS) Awareness: basic ICS structure and how the facility’s emergency team interfaces with arriving emergency services
• Hazard-Specific Response Planning: fire response, chemical spill/release response, natural disaster procedures, medical emergency response, utility failure response, and active threat/workplace violence response
• Drill Design and Evaluation: tabletop exercises, functional exercises, full-scale drills, drill objectives, observation, documentation, and improvement action planning
• Emergency Services Coordination: pre-incident planning with fire/EMS/law enforcement, facility pre-plans, site maps, hazmat information, and mutual aid
• NFPA 1600 Alignment: integrating OSHA requirements with the NFPA standard for comprehensive emergency and continuity management
• EAP Maintenance and Review: scheduled reviews, change-triggered updates, post-incident revision, and compliance documentation

Participants will receive online training through Microsoft Teams and LMS. Courses are offered by accredited broadcasters and backed by expert instruction and official study materials. All assessments are conducted online and successful participants are awarded certificates that are accepted internationally.

The Emergency Action Plans program is designed for safety officers, HSE coordinators, and workplace managers who aim to develop effective strategies for preparing, implementing, and managing emergency response procedures. This course emphasizes hazard assessment, emergency preparedness, crisis response, and communication to ensure safety and minimize risks during workplace emergencies.

Core Modules

Participants will explore essential topics to effectively design and implement emergency action plans:

Optional / Specialized Modules

Participants may explore additional specialized topics to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities:

The Emergency Action Plans program equips participants with practical knowledge, strategic planning skills, and professional expertise required to prepare, implement, and manage effective emergency response procedures, ensuring workplace safety and regulatory compliance.

• No prior safety qualification required
• No prior emergency management experience required
• Suitable for anyone with emergency preparedness responsibilities
• All instruction in English; working proficiency required

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

The program is designed to offer flexible online learning with a minimum instructional contact time of 8 hours. Most learners successfully complete the course within one month, allowing them to progress at their own pace while balancing professional commitments.

Candidates can take this exam through an assigned portal from the American Institute of Safety Professionals. A passing score is 70% or higher, and exam results are provided right after by email to the address provided. The exam is open-book, allowing candidates to validate their answers. Any candidates who do not pass have 1 month after their exam to go through the training materials and can take the exam 3 additional times.

For questions about American Institute of Safety Professionals online fees, replacement certificates, additional hardbound materials or any other financial-related issues please feel free to contact accounts@amiosp.com

• Safety officers and HSE officers responsible for developing and maintaining the facility EAP
• Facility managers and building managers who own the emergency preparedness function
• Emergency coordinators and emergency response team leaders designated under the EAP
• Floor wardens and evacuation team leaders who need to understand their roles within the plan
• Operations managers and plant managers accountable for emergency preparedness in their area
• HR managers who coordinate EAP training, drill scheduling, and employee communication
• Security managers whose responsibilities include active threat planning and emergency communication
• Fire safety officers and fire wardens responsible for fire prevention and evacuation coordination

Prerequisite: No prior safety qualification is required. The course is designed for anyone with emergency preparedness responsibilities.

• Emergency Action Plans YOU ARE HERE (focused emergency preparedness)
• CHSO: Certified Health and Safety Officer (includes EAP as one function within complete officer competency)
• CHSM: Certified Health and Safety Manager (includes emergency programme governance)
• DIP: International Diploma in Industrial Safety Management (Unit 6 covers emergency response and sustainability at diploma depth)
• DIP: International Diploma in Oil and Gas Safety Management (Unit 5 covers petroleum-specific emergency response including ICS, oil spill, well control)

The EAP course provides focused emergency preparedness competency. The certifications and diplomas include emergency preparedness as one component within broader qualification programmes.