Planning Workplace Emergencies

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Develop emergency action plans per OSHA 1910.38: the required elements (evacuation procedures and routes, procedures for employees who remain for critical operations, employee headcount procedures, rescue and medical duties, reporting procedures, alarm system, and the names of persons to contact for plan information).
• Conduct hazard vulnerability assessments: identifying the emergencies most likely to affect the facility based on location (natural disaster exposure), operations (fire, chemical, explosion risk), and external factors (proximity to industrial facilities, transportation corridors, population centres), and prioritising planning efforts.
• Design evacuation systems: primary and alternate evacuation routes, assembly areas (safe distance, accessibility, headcount capability), floor warden responsibilities, mobility-impaired evacuation assistance, multi-story stairwell management, and the evacuation procedures that account for every occupant.
• Design shelter-in-place procedures: when to shelter versus evacuate, chemical release shelter (seal room, shut HVAC), severe weather shelter (interior rooms, lowest floor, away from windows), and the decision criteria that determine the correct protective action.
• Plan and conduct emergency drills: drill types (tabletop, functional, full-scale), drill frequency, scenario development, drill execution, observer evaluation, after-action review, corrective action implementation, and the progressive drill programme that builds emergency competency over time.
• Establish emergency communication: alarm systems (audible and visual), PA systems, mass notification (text, email, app), emergency contact lists, communication with emergency services, and the redundant communication that ensures notification even when primary systems fail.

Core Curriculum Topics

• OSHA 1910.38 EAP Requirements: required elements, written plan, employee training
• Hazard Vulnerability Assessment: probability, impact, facility-specific emergency identification
• Evacuation Planning: routes, assembly, headcount, floor wardens, mobility-impaired, multi-story
• Shelter-in-Place: chemical release, severe weather, active threat, decision criteria
• Fire Emergency: alarm, evacuation, extinguisher use, fire department coordination
• Severe Weather: tornado, hurricane, earthquake, flood — facility-specific procedures
• Active Threat Awareness: situational awareness, response options, law enforcement interface
• Medical Emergency: first aid, AED, EMS coordination, emergency medical plan
• Chemical Release Response: spill versus release, evacuation versus shelter, notification
• Emergency Communication: alarms, PA, mass notification, contacts, redundancy
• Drill Programme: tabletop, functional, full-scale, evaluation, after-action, improvement
• Business Continuity: critical function identification, recovery priorities, continuity planning awareness

• No prior training required
• No academic degree required
• 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.

• Safety officers developing or updating emergency action plans
• Facility managers responsible for building emergency preparedness
• Floor wardens and emergency response team members
• HR managers coordinating emergency communication and headcount
• Operations managers responsible for critical operations shutdown during emergencies
• Anyone designated to plan, coordinate, or lead emergency response

• Planning Workplace Emergencies — YOU ARE HERE
• Emergency Action Plans (companion course with EAP-specific focus)
• Fire Prevention Plans and Fire Protection (fire-specific prevention and response)
• Preventing Workplace Violence (active threat response)