Evacuation Planning

1. Alarm Procedures
   • Use distinctive and recognizable alarm
   • Ensure proper maintenance of emergency communications system
   • Ensure auxiliary power supply is operational
   • Place visual alarms where they can be seen by all within the facility
2. Evacuation Policy and Procedure
   • Appoint an evacuation coordinator and have a clearly identified chain of command
   • Designate individuals as evacuation wardens (1 warden for every 20 employees)
   • Post specific routes and exits for evacuation where they can be seen by all within the facility
   • Identify procedures to assist persons with disabilities
   • Identify policies to assist non-English speaking persons
   • Designate what critical operations must continue through evacuation
   • Implement policy for post-evacuation personnel accountability, including predetermined staging areas for those requiring medical assistance
3. Evacuation Coordinator should:
   • Assess the situation
   • Supervise all areas of the operation
   • Coordinate and liaison with responding emergency services personnel
   • Oversee of the shutdown of facility operations
4. Evacuating Wardens should:
   • Be available at all times during working hours
   • Be aware of employees with special needs
   • Be thoroughly familiar with facility layout and alternate escape routes
   • Direct and assist the evacuation of persons from facility
5. Ensure evacuation routes are:
   • Unobstructed and free of debris at all times
   • Unlikely to expose individuals to additional hazards
   • Designated as primary and secondary routes and exits
   • Clearly marked and well lit
   • Wide enough to accommodate the number of persons evacuating
6. Evacuation Assembly Points
   • Designate an assembly area for employees
   • Be cognizant of secondary devices
   • Evacuation Warden(s) perform a roll call at assembly point
   • Names and last known location of persons not accounted for should be provided to Evacuation Warden immediately
   • Evacuation Warden should provide the information to the official in charge of the incident as soon as possible
   • A protocol should be implemented to account for non-employees
   • Secondary assembly points should be identified in the event that the incident expands
7. Medical Considerations
   • Determine what medical and first aid capabilities exist
   • Provide employees with a written emergency medical procedure to minimize confusion during an emergency
   • Ensure sufficient first-aid supplies are available on-site for an emergency
8. Employee Training
   • General training should include:
     • Individual roles and responsibilities
     • Types of threats, hazards and protective actions implemented
     • Notification/warning and communications procedures
     • Emergency response procedures
     • Evacuation, shelter and accountability procedures
     • Location and proper use of common emergency equipment
   • Training should take place:
     • After development of plan
     • At least annually
     • As a component of orientation training for new employees
     • When new equipment, technologies or protocols are introduced
     • In all instances where there are changes to the layout or design of the facility

 

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