1. Purpose and Scope
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) sets the evacuation response for site emergencies, including fires, gas leaks, structural failures, or alarm activations, at [Location/Address]. It applies to all employees, contractors, and visitors across [Building/Area Descriptions].
This plan satisfies regulatory requirements under 29 CFR 1910.38. Copies of the plan and evacuation maps are posted at [Locations].
Direct questions to the Emergency Action Plan Coordinator:
- Coordinator Role: [Role]
- Contact Information: [Contact Details]
Working through related paperwork at the same time? See also our Accident & Incident Reporting Procedure Template, Fire Evacuation Procedure Template and UK First Aid Policy & Procedure Template.
2. Roles and Responsibilities
- Emergency Action Plan Coordinator ([Role]): Maintains the emergency plan, updates evacuation maps and warden rosters, schedules and logs drills, and liaises with emergency services.
- Evacuation Wardens ([Role], [Number] per [Floor/Area]): Sweep assigned areas when alarms sound, assist anyone needing help, close doors behind exiting personnel, and report area clearance status at the assembly point.
- Shutdown Operators ([Role]): Execute authorized critical facility shutdowns before evacuating, provided conditions are safe.
- First Aid Responders ([Role]): Bring first aid supplies [and AED] to the assembly point and administer emergency care until medical personnel arrive.
- All Personnel: Know two exit routes per work area, evacuate immediately upon alarm, and report to the designated assembly point for headcount.
3. Reporting Emergencies and Raising the Alarm
- Anyone who discovers a fire or major emergency must pull the nearest alarm station at [Locations] and call local emergency services (e.g., 911) from a safe area. Never assume alarms automatically dispatch responders.
- Once emergency services are called, contact [Role] at [Contact Details] to inform internal management, if safe to do so. Never delay emergency calls or alarm activations to get supervisor approval.
- Primary Alarm Signal: [Description: Continuous Horn/Strobes] signals immediate evacuation.
- Secondary Alarm Signal: [Description] signals [Shelter-in-Place / Alternative Response].
- Only trained personnel may use fire extinguishers, and only on small, incipient fires after the alarm is sounding and with a clear exit route open. Otherwise, evacuate immediately.
4. Evacuation Procedure
- Stop work immediately when the alarm sounds.
- Shut down equipment only if covered by critical shutdown procedures and the task takes seconds. Otherwise, leave equipment as it is.
- Evacuate using the nearest marked exit on the posted map. Use Primary Route: [Route Description]. If smoke or hazards block it, use Secondary Route: [Route Description].
- Do not use elevators. Close doors behind you to slow the spread of hazards, but leave them unlocked.
- Assist visitors and anyone needing help. Check Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) at [Location] for assigned buddy pairings.
- Leave personal belongings. Do not return to workstations or lockers.
- Stay low in smoke. Feel closed doors with the back of your hand before opening.
- Go directly to the assigned assembly point ([Assembly Point A for Areas X; Assembly Point B for Areas Y]). Stay at the assembly point. Do not leave the premises or enter vehicles.
- Do not re-enter the facility until emergency services or [Role] gives an explicit all-clear. A silenced alarm is not an all-clear.
5. Personnel Headcount and Accounting
- Wardens sweep assigned areas, including restrooms, break rooms, and secondary spaces, then report “clear” or “not clear” to the coordinator at the assembly point.
- Supervisors count their teams against shift rosters. Designated personnel bring visitor and contractor logbooks to the assembly point.
- The coordinator collects warden reports and supervisor counts to account for everyone on site.
- Report missing individuals and their last known locations immediately to the incident commander. Personnel must not re-enter the building to search.
- The coordinator logs headcount completion times, counts, and issues for post-incident review.
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6. Critical Facility Operations and Shutdowns
Abandon all equipment and operations immediately when an alarm sounds, unless explicitly listed below. Authorized critical shutdowns include:
- [Operation Name]: Performed by [Role] per procedure [Procedure Document Ref, Duration].
- [Utility Isolation]: Performed by [Role].
Operators must abandon shutdowns and evacuate immediately if hazard conditions worsen. Every shutdown process must have a clear walk-away threshold.
7. Rescue and Medical Duties
- Professional emergency responders conduct all search and rescue. Employees must not enter hazardous areas to attempt rescues.
- Designated First Aid Responders ([Role]) treat injuries at the assembly point using equipment brought from [Equipment Storage Location] until emergency medical services arrive.
- Staff assigned medical duties must complete and document formal training before taking on these responsibilities.
8. Setup and Implementation Guidelines
- Walk all floor plans to verify primary and secondary routes. Ensure pathways are clear of stored items or operational obstructions.
- Assign Evacuation Wardens and Shutdown Operators by role rather than employee name to maintain coverage during absences.
- Set assembly points in areas that keep emergency lanes and responder operations clear. Mark these locations on site maps.
- Cross-check local fire codes, including drill frequencies and signage rules, against site procedures.
- Run an evacuation drill within [30 Days] of adopting or revising this plan. Time the response and record any failure points.
- Review this procedure with new employees before their first shift.
9. Training, Drills, and Review Cycle
- Training Triggers: Train personnel on this SOP during initial assignment, whenever the SOP updates, or when assigned duties change.
- Drill Schedule: Conduct evacuation drills at set intervals [Frequency, e.g., Annually], including off-shift runs where applicable. Time, evaluate, and document every drill.
- Review Schedule: Review this procedure [Frequency, e.g., Annually], after every drill or real emergency, and whenever facility layouts, alarm systems, or staffing levels change.
- Document Owner: [Role]
- Next Review Date: [Date]
10. Records Management
[Role] maintains the following records and must produce them for audits upon request:
- Evacuation drill logs and debrief notes.
- Employee training completion logs and acknowledgments.
- Designated warden and responder rosters.
- Post-incident evaluation logs.
FAQs on an emergency action plan
What is an emergency action plan?
An emergency action plan sets the evacuation response for site emergencies, including fires, gas leaks, structural failures, or alarm activations, at your site. It applies to all employees, contractors, and visitors across your site.
Having it written down means the same rules apply to everyone, so managers are not making judgement calls case by case under pressure.
What does an emergency action plan include?
This template covers reporting emergencies and raising the alarm, evacuation procedure, personnel headcount and accounting and critical facility operations and shutdowns.
Every section is written to be filled in. The bracketed placeholders mark the decisions that are yours to make, such as timescales, approval owners and retention periods.
How to implement an emergency action plan with Whale
Copy this template into Whale and work through the bracketed placeholders so it reflects how your organisation actually operates.
Assign it to the teams it applies to so it sits where people work rather than in a shared drive, and set a review date so it gets revisited on schedule instead of quietly going out of date.
Use our templates to fast-track your documentation
Customize this template and 100s of others for free in Whale, the fastest way to get your team aligned.