Emergency Preparedness Program & Resources
- Overview
- Regulations / Directives / Training
- Resources
- Emergency Preparedness Jobs
- Return to Compliance Program Index
Overview
The
importance of an effective workplace safety and health
program cannot be overemphasized. There are many
benefits from such a program, including increased
productivity, improved employee morale, reduced
absenteeism and illness, and reduced workers'
compensation rates. Unfortunately, workplace accidents
and illnesses still occur in spite of efforts to prevent
them, and proper planning is necessary to effectively
respond to emergencies.
Several Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards
explicitly require employers to have emergency action
plans for their workplaces. Emergency preparedness is a
well-known concept in protecting workers' safety and
health. To help employers, safety and health
professionals, training directors, and others, the OSHA
requirements for emergencies are compiled and summarized
in OSHA's
Principal Emergency Response and Preparedness
Requirements and Guidance
booklet.
This publication provides a generic,
non-exhaustive overview of OSHA standards for
emergencies. It is not intended to alter or determine
compliance responsibilities in OSHA standards or the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Please
review the current
OSHA standards applicable to your work operations to
ensure your compliance.
NOTE: The
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) imposes
specific obligations on employers relative to employment
of individuals with disabilities. The United States
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's website
provides employer resources for addressing ADA
requirements in private workplaces, including
“Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodations.” The
Job Accommodations Network publication Emergency
Evacuation Procedures for Employees with Disabilities
provides planning information and resources on emergency
procedures for employees with disabilities.
NOTE: Emergency responder health and safety is currently regulated primarily under the following standards: The fire brigade standard (29 CFR 1910.156); hazardous waste operations and emergency response (29 CFR 1910.120); the respiratory protection standard (29 CFR 1910.134); the permit-required confined space standard (29 CFR 1910.146); and the bloodborne pathogens standard (29 CFR 1910.1030). Some of these standards were published decades ago and none were designed as comprehensive emergency response standards. Consequently, they do not address the full range of hazards or concerns currently facing emergency responders. Many do not reflect major changes in performance specifications for protective clothing and equipment. Current OSHA standards also do not reflect all the major developments in safety and health practices that have already been accepted by the emergency response community and incorporated into National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and American National Standards Institute consensus standards. OSHA is now collecting information to evaluate what action the agency should take to update the standards.
Regulations / Directives / Training
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Emergency Preparedness (Are Your Ready) FEMA
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OSHA Emergency Action Plans (29 CFR 1910.38)
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Publication Principal Emergency Response and Preparedness (OSHA Requirements and Guidance)
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ASSOCIATIONS
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TRAINING
Resources