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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Handling Emergencies

Handling Emergencies

33 minutesENSafety Training29 CFR 1910.38, OSHA General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1))
Quick Answer

Handling Emergencies is a 33-minute online course that trains professional security officers on how to respond to emergency incidents, including workplace violence, in the facilities they protect. It is designed for security personnel, loss prevention officers, and facility protection staff, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Security officers are often the first responders to workplace emergencies, from medical incidents to active threats. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workplace violence incidents resulted in approximately 57,610 nonfatal injuries requiring days away from work in 2022, and assaults in the workplace caused over 500 fatalities annually in recent years. OSHA's General Duty Clause requires employers to protect workers from recognized hazards, including workplace violence, and OSHA's enforcement guidance holds employers responsible for implementing emergency action plans under 29 CFR 1910.38. Security officers who are not trained to handle emergencies effectively put themselves, employees, and visitors at risk.

This course prepares your security team to take control of emergency situations, activate agreed-upon emergency procedures, and take immediate steps to prevent further harm. Your officers will learn how to assess and prioritize threats, coordinate with emergency services, manage evacuations and lockdowns, and communicate effectively during high-stress incidents. The training addresses a range of emergency scenarios that security personnel are most likely to encounter in commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities.

What You'll Learn

  • Emergency assessment and threat prioritization for security officers
  • Workplace violence response procedures, including de-escalation and containment
  • Activating and coordinating facility emergency action plans
  • Evacuation management and accountability procedures
  • Communication protocols with law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services
  • Incident documentation and scene preservation for post-incident investigation
  • Medical emergency first response and triage until EMS arrives
  • Post-incident procedures, including witness statements and report writing

Who Needs This Training

  • Professional security officers assigned to commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities
  • Loss prevention and asset protection staff in retail and corporate environments
  • Front desk and lobby security personnel who serve as first points of contact during emergencies
  • Security supervisors and shift leads responsible for coordinating emergency response teams
  • Facility protection officers at healthcare, education, and government buildings
  • Contract security company managers responsible for officer training and readiness

Regulatory Background

While no single OSHA standard is dedicated exclusively to security officer training, OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) requires employers to maintain workplaces free from recognized hazards, which includes the threat of workplace violence. OSHA's Emergency Action Plan standard (29 CFR 1910.38) requires employers to develop written plans covering emergency escape procedures, critical operations shutdown, employee headcount protocols, and rescue and medical duties. OSHA has issued enforcement guidance letters specifically addressing workplace violence prevention, and employers who fail to address known violence risks can face citations under the General Duty Clause. Serious violations carry penalties up to $16,550, and employers in industries with elevated violence risk - including healthcare, retail, and social services - face heightened OSHA scrutiny.

Frequently Asked Questions

OSHA's Emergency Action Plan standard (29 CFR 1910.38) requires employers to train employees on the emergency procedures relevant to their role, and security officers typically have primary responsibilities during facility emergencies. OSHA's General Duty Clause also obligates employers to protect workers from recognized hazards, which includes ensuring that personnel tasked with emergency response are adequately trained to perform those duties safely.
The security officer's primary responsibility is to activate the facility's emergency response procedures, protect building occupants, and coordinate with law enforcement and emergency services. Officers should focus on containment, evacuation, and communication rather than attempting to confront an active threat without law enforcement support. Proper training ensures officers can assess the situation, make sound decisions under pressure, and preserve life until additional resources arrive.
OSHA requires an Emergency Action Plan under 29 CFR 1910.38 for employers covered by certain OSHA standards, including those with fire extinguisher requirements (29 CFR 1910.157) and process safety management (29 CFR 1910.119). Even for employers not specifically required to have a written plan, OSHA strongly recommends one, and the General Duty Clause can be used to cite employers who fail to prepare for foreseeable emergencies.
Training security officers on emergency response demonstrates that the employer has taken reasonable steps to address foreseeable risks. Documented training reduces OSHA citation exposure under the General Duty Clause, supports a defense in negligence and premises liability claims, and helps meet duty-of-care obligations to employees and visitors. Employers who can show a comprehensive prevention and response program are in a significantly stronger legal position following a workplace violence incident.
Healthcare and social assistance, retail trade, and education are among the industries with the highest rates of workplace violence according to BLS data. OSHA has launched targeted enforcement initiatives in healthcare, where workplace violence injuries are five times the national average. Any employer with public-facing operations, cash handling, or late-night staffing should assess their workplace violence risk and train security and front-line staff accordingly.

Related Courses

Employers building a comprehensive security and emergency preparedness program often pair this course with Active Shooter: In The Workplace for targeted active threat response training and Workplace Safety Training: Crisis Management and Emergency Planning for broader organizational emergency readiness.

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$29.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$29.95
10 - 24$23.95
25 - 49$21.55
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $29.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$29.95
per person