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Workplace Safety Training: Crisis Management and Emergency Planning

23 minutesEN / ES / MLCCSafety Training29 CFR 1910.38 - Emergency Action Plans
Quick Answer

Crisis Management and Emergency Planning is a 23-minute online course that covers the required elements of an emergency action plan under OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.38, including evacuation procedures, emergency communication, designated roles, and guidelines for rendering medical aid. It is designed for all employees and the supervisors responsible for emergency preparedness, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Under 29 CFR 1910.38, all employers must have an emergency action plan whenever another OSHA standard requires one, and employers with more than ten employees must maintain it in writing. Emergency preparedness is not optional - workplace fires, chemical releases, severe weather, and active threat situations can occur at any facility, and a poorly prepared response leads to confusion, injuries, and preventable deaths. OSHA requires that the plan be kept in the workplace, accessible to all employees, and reviewed with each employee when they are first assigned to a job, when their responsibilities change, and when the plan is updated. Serious violations of emergency planning requirements carry penalties of up to $16,550 per instance.

This course gives your entire team a clear understanding of emergency action plan requirements and their individual roles in a crisis. It covers the mandatory elements of an emergency action plan - emergency reporting procedures, evacuation routes and assembly points, designated employee roles and responsibilities during an emergency, and guidelines for employees who remain behind to operate critical equipment or render medical assistance. Your employees will know exactly what to do, where to go, and who to contact when an emergency occurs.

What You'll Learn

  • OSHA's emergency action plan requirements under 29 CFR 1910.38, including mandatory written plan elements
  • Procedures for reporting fires, chemical spills, weather emergencies, and other workplace crises
  • Emergency evacuation routes, exits, and designated assembly areas
  • Roles and responsibilities for emergency coordinators, floor wardens, and designated employees
  • Guidelines for employees who remain behind to operate critical equipment during an evacuation
  • Procedures for rendering emergency medical aid and accounting for all employees after an evacuation
  • Employee alarm system requirements and how to respond to different alarm signals

Who Needs This Training

  • All employees who must understand evacuation procedures and their role during workplace emergencies
  • Newly hired employees who need emergency action plan orientation as part of onboarding
  • Designated emergency coordinators and floor wardens responsible for evacuation procedures
  • Supervisors who must account for their team members during an evacuation
  • Facility managers responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating the emergency action plan
  • Employees at multi-tenant or multi-employer worksites who need to coordinate emergency response

Regulatory Background

OSHA's emergency action plan standard, 29 CFR 1910.38, requires employers to have a written emergency action plan whenever another OSHA standard mandates one. The plan must include procedures for reporting emergencies, evacuation procedures with exit route assignments, procedures for employees who remain behind to operate critical plant operations, procedures for accounting for all employees after an evacuation, and the names of employees to contact for plan information. Employers must designate and train employees to assist in safe and orderly evacuations, maintain an employee alarm system, and review the plan with each covered employee upon initial assignment, when responsibilities change, and when the plan is updated. Employers with ten or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally rather than in writing. Multiple OSHA standards trigger the emergency action plan requirement, including process safety management (29 CFR 1910.119), fixed extinguishing systems (29 CFR 1910.160), and ethylene oxide (29 CFR 1910.1047). Serious violations carry penalties of up to $16,550 per instance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Under 29 CFR 1910.38, employers must have an emergency action plan whenever another OSHA standard requires one. This includes employers covered by standards such as process safety management (1910.119), fixed extinguishing systems (1910.160), and several chemical-specific standards. Employers with more than ten employees must maintain the plan in writing and keep it accessible to all employees. Employers with ten or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally.
The minimum required elements are procedures for reporting fires and other emergencies, procedures for emergency evacuation including exit route assignments, procedures to account for all employees after an evacuation, procedures for employees who remain behind to operate critical equipment, rescue and medical duties for designated employees, and contact information for employees who can provide additional plan details.
OSHA requires the plan to be reviewed with each covered employee when the plan is first developed or the employee is initially assigned to a job, when the employee's responsibilities under the plan change, and when the plan itself is changed. There is no annual review requirement in the standard, but many employers conduct annual reviews as a best practice to ensure all employees remain familiar with their roles.
The 29 CFR 1910.38 standard itself does not explicitly require evacuation drills. However, the standard does require that employers designate and train employees to assist in evacuation, which in practice means drills are often necessary to meet the training obligation. Additionally, local fire codes in most jurisdictions require periodic fire drills, and OSHA can cite employers under the General Duty Clause if a lack of drill practice contributes to an inadequate emergency response.
Under 29 CFR 1910.38, employers must account for employees who remain behind to operate critical plant operations until their evacuation becomes absolutely necessary. The emergency action plan must include procedures for these employees, including clear criteria for when they must evacuate, training on their specific duties during the emergency, and communication protocols with emergency coordinators. Essential operations may include monitoring power supplies, shutting down chemical processes, or managing water systems.
$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95
Language

This course is available in English, Spanish, and Multi-Language CC at no additional charge.

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

$24.95
per person