"Nobody expects an emergency or disaster—especially one that affects them, their employees, and the business personally. Yet the simple truth is that emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, and anywhere. You and your employees could be forced to evacuate your company when you least expect it."

(OSHA, "How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations")

Clipboard checklist in an industrial environment

How to Create an
Emergency Action Plan

No matter where you are, what type of facility you're inside, or what's going on, emergencies can and will happen. If you own or run a facility, the safety of its occupants is incredibly important. To best prepare for these circumstances and prevent panic, you should develop an emergency action plan (EAP). In fact, if your place of employment has more than 10 employees at a time, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires it.

This guide will walk you through the essential steps for creating a comprehensive and code-compliant emergency action plan for your facility. We'll also highlight how proper fire safety signage and evacuation maps are fundamental components of any effective EAP.

Software programs can make creating and managing your emergency action plan easier. Some resources include:

OSHA offers a useful emergency action plan checklist, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is another valuable source for emergency evacuation information.

Elements of an Emergency Action Plan

Every robust emergency action plan should include key elements to ensure comprehensive preparedness:

Procedures for reporting of emergencies
Occupant and staff response to emergencies
Evacuation, relocation and shelter-in-place procedures appropriate to the building, its occupancy, emergencies, and hazards
Appropriateness of the use of elevators
Design and conduct fire drills
Type and coverage of building fire protection systems
Other items required by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)

The Benefits of an
Emergency Action Plan

While developing an emergency action plan can be time-consuming, the benefits far outweigh the investment. A properly implemented EAP can save money and, more importantly, lives.

Consider these impacts from the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA) 2023 national estimates for nonresidential building fires and losses:

110,000 fires
130 deaths
1,200 injuries
$3.16 billion in dollar loss

A well-executed emergency action plan is vital for preventing or mitigating extensive damage to a business. According to OSHA, up to 40% of businesses that suffer natural or man-made disasters never reopen. This highlights the critical importance of a proactive EAP for business continuity.

Ensure your emergency action plan covers as many potential dangers as possible. After a disaster, meticulously document all damage for insurance providers and stakeholders. Crucially, communicate your preparedness efforts and the effectiveness of your EAP to customers, staff, and all who frequent your facility, reinforcing your commitment to their safety.

"During development and implementation of your draft plan, think about all possible emergency situations and evaluate your workplace to see if it complies with OSHA's emergency standards."

(OSHA, "Evacuation Plans and Procedures eTool")

4 Steps to Building Your Emergency Action Plan

Exterior exit door with 'Exit Only' signage

1. Begin with the End.

To make your emergency action plan most effective, start by defining the safest assembly points for your facility's occupants. Establish a clear process for an accurate occupant count to ensure everyone is safely accounted for. Then, backtrack to map out how a large group might traverse the area during an emergency. Look for pathway obstructions, ladders, slippery surfaces, or locked doors, especially those that might impede individuals with impaired mobility. Also, ensure that emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers, is conveniently placed along the evacuation routes.

An elevator bank with emergency evacuation map signage

2. Don't Forget the Maps.

Evacuation maps are another essential element of your emergency action plan. These expertly detailed maps of your facility should be strategically placed throughout, guiding occupants to the nearest exit and ultimately to safety.

Use EvacuationPlans.com's SignSpec© free quotation service to effortlessly create your custom maps. Simply submit your floor plans, and our expert cartography team will draw up the code-compliant evacuation plan maps you need. Upon receiving your maps, discuss and review them with emergency team leaders to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Elevator banks are common locations for these maps, but they should also be in other high-traffic areas such as building entrances, meeting rooms, stairway doors, or common areas of the facility. Printing them at 12″ x 10″ or larger will ensure visibility and legibility. Remember, if any significant changes are made to your facility's layout, factor these into your drills and get updated evacuation maps as soon as possible.

Get Custom Evacuation Maps Drawn for Your Facility »

Looking down a flight of stairs at an exit door with appropriate signage

3. Make Sure Your Exit Signs Comply.

While evacuation maps are crucial, they are not the only signs guiding the way to safety. Numerous other emergency safety signs should be posted as part of your emergency action plan, and EvacuationPlans.com offers all the safety signage your building could ever need.

Stairwells are vitally important for escaping buildings during fires and other emergencies, making appropriate stairwell signage equally necessary. Exit signage is perhaps the most commonly found stairwell signage; while most people are familiar with electrical exit signs, photoluminescent exit signs work independently of electrical power sources, making them more optimal for emergencies involving power outages. Whichever type of signage you install, ensure your stairwells and exit doors are properly marked to make directions obvious. Some states and facilities may also require photoluminescent low-level egress signs, which further illuminate a darkened path.

Ensure your exit signs comply with UL924 100-foot viewing distance and meet current NFPA Life Safety Code 101 and OSHA requirements. If you're unsure whether your signs are compliant, reach out to EvacuationPlans.com for expert assistance.

Shop Code-Compliant Fire Safety Signs for Your EAP »

4. Practice Makes Perfect.

You shouldn't be the only one involved in implementing an EAP. Ensure you have a sizable team and the right documentation for each member. Evacuation team leaders should be well-known and trusted by your staff, enabling them to instill a sense of safety and security during emergencies. For larger facilities and staff sizes, having a team leader from each department is a must, along with backup coordinators for absences. From there, have everyone study the documentation before preparing with regular mental walkthroughs and physical drills.

It is wise to hold semiannual, if not quarterly, meetings and drills for emergency evacuations, especially as employees come and go. These should encompass different emergencies, such as fires, natural disasters, chemical/substance leaks, and other safety-related situations. By diligently following these steps, you'll have the peace of mind that everyone will know what to do during an evacuation.

How to Create an Emergency Action Plan