US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

You may not be aware, but almost every business is required by OSHA to have an Emergency Action Plan or EAP. Because all employers face the possibility of emergencies such as workplace fires, chemical releases and flooding, a well-developed EAP will result in fewer and less severe employee injuries and less structural damage to the business. Thankfully, putting together an emergency action plan that deals with issues specific to your worksite is not difficult and there are resources available to assist employers. It is important to note that an emergency action plan must be in writing, kept in the workplace and be available to employees for review; however, if the employer has ten or fewer employees, the EAP may be communicated orally.

At a minimum, every EAP must include the following:

• Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency;
• Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments;
• Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;
• Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation;
• Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties;
• The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan.

Small, low-hazard service or retail businesses can easily create their EAP with the help of the OSHA free eTool located on the OSHA.gov website at: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/index.html.

For more personalized assistance, UVICELL Safety in Paradise can help small and medium-sized employers to develop an emergency action plan specific for their workplace by providing free OSHA On-Site Consultation Services. Request our free and confidential assistance online at http://safety.uvi.edu/; or to request additional information please contact us at 340-693-1146, or safetyinparadise@uvi.edu. Safety in Paradise looks forward to helping your company meet your safety and health needs! To learn more about this free and confidential safety and health program, visit: http://safety.uvi.edu/. Also, Like Us on Facebook at SafetyInParadise to stay in touch with the latest news regarding occupational safety and health!