Each year, National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized in September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen anywhere or at any time. While it’s important for households to have a plan in the event of a disaster or an emergency, employers also need to have an emergency action plan in place.

For employers, an emergency action plan (EAP) is a written document required by particular OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910.38(a)). The purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies. Well-developed emergency plans and proper employee training — where employees understand their roles and responsibilities within the plan — will result in fewer and less severe employee injuries and less structural damage to the facility during emergencies.

To learn more about emergency action plans, view the US DOL’s Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool: https://www.osha.gov/etools/evacuation-plans-procedures/eap

Credit to: U.S. Department of Labor