Principal Emergency Response and Preparedness Requirements and Guidance

The importance of an effective workplace safety and health program cannot be overemphasized. There are many benefits from such a program, including increased productivity, improved employee morale, reduced absenteeism and illness, and reduced workers' compensation rates. Unfortunately, workplace accidents and illnesses still occur in spite of efforts to prevent them, and proper planning is necessary to effectively respond to emergencies. Several Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards explicitly require employers to have emergency action plans for their workplaces. Emergency preparedness is a well-known concept in protecting workers' safety and health. To help employers, safety and health professionals, training directors, and others, the OSHA requirements for emergencies are compiled and summarized in this booklet. To use this publication effectively, you should review the standards identified for your industrial sector(s) and determine if they apply to your workplace. Each standard listed in this publication includes a general description of the standard's scope. Once you have determined which standards apply to your workplace, review the requirements and resources identified in this publication for each applicable standard. To assist you in better understanding each standard, this publication summarizes the essential program, procedural, equipment, and training requirements in each of the standards identified.