Is Your Workplace Emergency Evacuation Ready?

How to plan for the unexpected and train workers.

By: Nikki Johnson, Contributor

Glow-in-the-dark visual communication can help workers can get to safety more efficiently. © Iryna Liveoak – stock.adobe.com

Emergencies can happen at any time and anywhere. It is crucial to plan for the unexpected and train workers on how to handle these types of situations, which include natural disasters, electrical incidents, fires and chemical spills.

In industrial settings, some of the most common emergency evacuation situations are:

• Hazardous material spills
• Fires
• Severe weather
• Power outages

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLS

If you use or store hazardous substances at your worksite, there is an increased risk of an emergency involving hazardous materials, and an emergency action plan should be established. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers who use hazardous chemicals to inventory them, keep the manufacturer-supplied Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for them in a place accessible to workers, label containers of these chemicals with their hazards, and train employees how to protect themselves against those hazards.

OSHA requires organizations to conduct a hazardous chemical inventory and gather the MSDSs for the chemicals. Hazardous spills can cause a wide range of issues if left unchecked. Some of these effects are immediate, while others are long-term and can include death. Some of the side effects to watch out for include:

• chemical burns
• sensitization
• irritation

Here are three tips for safely evacuating a facility after a hazardous spill:

1. Discover where the chemical is coming from, and move away from that area immediately.
2. Exit the building if the chemical is inside your building.
3. Move as far away as possible and shelter-in-place if leaving the building or finding clean air is not possible.

FIRES

Workplace fires are the most common occurrence in the industrial manufacturing industry. To make the process of finding potential fire hazards at your facility easier, OSHA suggests contacting the local fire department for assistance.

The fire department can also help create a plan for how employees should respond should a fire occur in your facility. A few hazards known to create fires are faulty equipment, loose wire, clutter, and combustibles.

Most fires are preventable, and prevention should be a priority. Here are four ways to eliminate fire hazards in your workplace.

1. Check your electrical appliances and wiring: Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
2. Keep flammables away: Keep anything that can catch fire at least three feet from all portable electric space heaters.
3. Keep cords out of doorways: Avoid putting cords where they can be damaged or pinched by furniture, under rugs and carpets or across doorways
4. Portable heating devices: Never leave these devices unattended

SEVERE WEATHER

Severe weather causes many grid challenges and power outages in the U.S., particularly in the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast.

Most of the nation’s power grid systems were built in the 1960s-70s, and other parts of it are at least 25 years old. It has become apparent that this aging grid cannot sustain the current frequency of severe weather storms.

POWER OUTAGES

OSHA requires facilities to have two or more evacuation exits in case of an emergency. Four points to consider when faced with a power outage in your facility:

1. Light the Way: Organized, clear visual communication is vital in emergency evacuations.  Safety professionals can shore up emergency evacuation areas with glow-in-the-dark visual communication so workers can get to safety more efficiently.
2. Machinery and Equipment: Shut off any electrically powered equipment that was operating prior to power outage. Master shutoff switches make this fast and easy.
3. Ventilation: Any areas at risk of harmful or flammable atmospheres should be stopped until ventilation is restored.
4. Doors: All powered doors need to be able to manually open in the event of a power outage.

HOW PREPARED IS YOUR WORKPLACE FOR AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION?

An emergency evacuation can be a chaotic situation, and this is why OSHA requires employers to have a written Emergency Action Plan (EAP)1, because it can prevent employee injuries and reduce damage to the facility. Consider these four steps when developing an EAP:

1. Conditions for Evacuation: Identify when and how employees are to respond to different types of emergencies.
2. Clear Chain of Command: Employers should designate individuals to an “evacuation team.” One member per 20 employees will suffice.
3. Routes and Exits: Create maps from floor diagrams. These maps should also include exits, assembly points and equipment needed in an emergency.
4. Account for Employees After Evacuation: Ensure the fastest and most accurate accounting of your employees and include this with the EAP.

ELEVATE YOUR EVACUATION STRATEGY

To prevent total chaos in times where an emergency evacuation is needed, you need to have a plan, train your employees on emergency procedures, and reinforce that training with clear visual communication.

Plan for the worst

The first step is to build a plan and create a team of individuals who will oversee the plan should an evacuation be necessary. The plan describes how workers will respond to different types of emergencies with the layout of their worksite layout, structural features and emergency systems in mind.

Each team member will be responsible for a certain number of employees and have a map of your facility created in advance to include all emergency exit points, equipment and assembly points.

Educate and practice

Training employees in what they need to do in an emergency is just as important as creating a plan. Employees need to know what they are signing up for and how to successfully perform their duties. Workers should be informed of any hazards that can occur and trained on how to avoid accidents. Safety signs and labels play a big part in this creation of awareness by reminding workers to be alert in job processes through visual cues.

Safety you can see

Clearly marked exits and pathways are beneficial to any facility. Floor marking and wayfinding make it easy for workers to navigate their environment safely. Floor marking communicates essential information to people where they need it, including in times when power is nonexistent. Deploy or upgrade your emergency evacuation signage to create safe pathways for workers, vehicular traffic and being prepared for an emergency evacuation.

For more information, read “Expecting the unexpected: What to consider when planning workplace emergencies,” https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHAPubs/3356.pdf WMHS

Nikki Johnson is a content specialist for DuraLabel. DuraLabel has become a global leader in workplace labeling and signage by providing solutions and savings for customers backed by lifetime support and service. All printer products and select supplies are backed a five-year warranty. We offer more than 50 different types of supplies for every type of environment. https://duralabel.com/