Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
Employers that require employees to respond to emergencies must develop an ERP. The ERP should detail required actions for each worksite.
The written ERP must be developed and implemented before allowing or permitting an employee response to a hazardous substance release. The plan must cover reasonably anticipated worst-case scenarios.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
Emergency response organizations may use the local emergency response plan or the state emergency response plan or both, as part of their emergency response plan to avoid duplication.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Those items of the emergency response plan that are addressed by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) plans may be substituted into their emergency plan or otherwise kept together for the employer and employee's use.
Elements a typical ERP covers includes:
- Pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties
- Personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication
- PPE and emergency equipment
- Emergency recognition and prevention
- Safe distances and places of refuge
- Site security and control
- Evacuation routes and procedures
- Decontamination
- Emergency medical treatment and first aid
- Emergency alerting and response procedures
- Critique of response and follow-up
- Training on the above elements
- Critical elements
- Incident command system
- Training
- Medical surveillance
- Chemical-protective clothing
- Post-emergency response operations
Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
As we mentioned earlier, in facilities where the employer has chosen to evacuate employees in the case of an emergency, and the employer does not permit any of their employees to assist in handling the emergency, the employer should develop an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the safe evacuation of personnel and ensure that the training of employees is consistent with 29 CFR 1910.38.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
4-2. Which ERP may emergency response organizations use as part of their own plan?
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