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9 What is the role of coordinators and evacuation wardens during an emergency? When drafting your emergency action plan, you may wish to select a responsible individual to lead and coordinate your emergency plan and evacuation. It is critical that employees know who the coordinator is and understand that person has the authority to make decisions during emergencies. The coordinator should be responsible for the following: ƒ Assessing the situation to determine whether an emergency exists requiring activation of your emergency procedures; ƒ Supervising all efforts in the area, including evacuating personnel; ƒ Coordinating outside emergency services, such as medical aid and local fire departments, and ensuring that they are available and notified when necessary; and ƒ Directing the shutdown of plant operations when required. You also may find it beneficial to coordinate the action plan with other employers when several employers share the worksite, although OSHA standards do not specifically require this. In addition to a coordinator, you may want to designate evacuation wardens to help move employees from danger to safe areas during an emergency. Generally, one warden for every 20 employees should be adequate, and the appropriate number of wardens should be available at all times during working hours. Employees designated to assist in emergency evacuation procedures should be trained in the complete workplace layout and various alternative escape routes. All employees and those designated to assist in emergencies should be made aware of employees with special needs who may require extra assistance, how to use the buddy system, and hazardous areas to avoid during an emergency evacuation.

Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................... 4 What is a workplace emergency? .................................. 4 How do you protect yourself, your employees, and your business?..... 4 What is an emergency action plan?................................. 5 What should your emergency action plan include? ................... 5 How do you alert employees to an emergency?...................... 7 How do you develop an evacuation policy and procedures?........... 7 Under what conditions should you call for an evacuation?............. 8 What is the role of coordinators and evacuation wardens during an emergency?............................................ 9 How do you establish evacuation routes and exits?.................. 10 How do you account for employees after an evacuation?............. 10 How should you plan for rescue operations? ....................... 10 What medical assistance should you provide during an emergency? .. 11 What role should employees play in your emergency action plan? .... 11 What employee information should your plan include? .............. 12 What type of training do your employees need? .................... 12 How often do you need to train your employees? ................... 13 What does your plan need to include about hazardous substances? ... 13 What special equipment should you provide for emergencies? ....... 14 How do you choose appropriate respirators and other equipment?.... 14 Who should you coordinate with when drafting your emergency action plan?.......................................... 15 What are OSHA’s requirements for emergencies? ................... 15 What other OSHA standards address emergency planning requirements? .................................................. 16 What assistance does OSHA provide? ............................. 17 What education and training does OSHA offer?..................... 18 What other publications does OSHA offer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 What electronic services does OSHA provide? ...................... 19 What free onsite consultation services does OSHA provide?.......... 19 What are the Voluntary Protection Programs?....................... 20 What partnership opportunities does OSHA provide?................ 21 What is the value of a good safety and health program? ............. 21 What is the role of state programs?................................ 21 What other groups or associations can help me?.................... 22 Appendices .................................................... 23

10 How do you establish evacuation routes and exits? When preparing your emergency action plan, designate primary and secondary evacuation routes and exits. To the extent possible under the conditions, ensure that evacuation routes and emergency exits meet the following conditions: ƒ Clearly marked and well lit; ƒ Wide enough to accommodate the number of evacuating personnel; ƒ Unobstructed and clear of debris at all times; and ƒ Unlikely to expose evacuating personnel to additional hazards. If you prepare drawings that show evacuation routes and exits, post them prominently for all employees to see. How do you account for employees after an evacuation? Accounting for all employees following an evacuation is critical. Confusion in the assembly areas can lead to delays in rescuing anyone trapped in the building, or unnecessary and dangerous search-and-rescue operations. To ensure the fastest, most accurate accountability of your employees, you may want to consider including these steps in your emergency action plan: ƒ Designate assembly areas where employees should gather after evacuating; ƒ Take a head count after the evacuation. Identify the names and last known locations of anyone not accounted for and pass them to the official in charge; ƒ Establish a method for accounting for non-employees such as suppliers and customers; and ƒ Establish procedures for further evacuation in case the incident expands. This may consist of sending employees home by normal means or providing them with transportation to an offsite location. How should you plan for rescue operations? It takes more than just willing hands to save lives. Untrained individuals may endanger themselves and those they are trying to rescue. For this reason, it is generally wise to leave rescue work to those who are trained, equipped, and certified to conduct rescues.