Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation

Emergencies can create a variety of hazards for workers in the impacted area. Preparing before an emergency incident plays a vital role in ensuring that employers and workers have the necessary equipment, know where to go, and know how to keep themselves safe when an emergency occurs.

These Emergency Preparedness and Evacuation provide information on how to prepare and train for emergencies and the hazards to be aware of when an emergency occurs.

This modules  provide information for employers and workers across industries, and for workers who will be responding to the emergency.

What is a workplace emergency?

As per OSHA, a workplace emergency is a situation that threatens workers, customers, or the public; disrupts or shuts down operations; or causes physical or environmental damage.

Emergencies may be natural or man-made, and may include hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, winter weather, chemical spills or releases, disease outbreaks, releases of biological agents, explosions involving nuclear or radiological sources, and many other hazards.

Many types of emergencies can be anticipated in the planning process, which can help employers and workers plan for other unpredictable situations.

What are OSHA’s requirements for emergencies?

Some key OSHA requirements for emergencies can be found in the following sections of standards for general industry (29 CFR 1910), construction (29 CFR 1926), and maritime (29 CFR 1915, 1917, and 1918). The table may not list all standards that apply to all situations.