Emergency Response

José A. Carpena, PE
Area Director
Puerto Rico Area Office
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

2005 SWRI Annual Meeting

OSHA and its Regions
 Workplace Emergency

An unforeseen situation that threatens

your employees, customers, or the
public, disrupts or shuts down your
operations, or causes physical or
 Types of Emergency

• Earthquakes
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Energy/utility outages
• Fire hazards
• Hazardous materials
releases
• Terrorism
Workplace Emergency
Reporting and alerting emergencies

• Employees must know

how to report
emergencies

• "911" is a common
method for reporting
emergencies if
external emergency
personnel are used at
your workplace
 Workplace Emergency
OSHA’s Recordkeeping and
Reporting

• Fatality: Death of one or more employees

from a work-related incident
• Catastrophe: In-patient hospitalization of
three or more employees as a result of a work-
related incident
Emergency Preparedness
Essential elements of emergency
preparedness planning:

• Identify hazards and assess risk.

• Assess capabilities and resources.
• Develop an emergency plan and
procedures.
• Integrate the plan with the community
plan.
• Conduct training.
• Public relations.
• Conduct Drills and Exercises.
• Develop Plan Audit Procedures.
 OSHA’s Response Plans

• National Emergency Management Plan

(NEMP)
• Regional Emergency Management Plan
(REMP)
OSHA’s Response to
Emergency
• To assist local response
agencies in any way possible
within agency capabilities (Non-
enforcement)
• To initiate workplace
investigation (Enforcement)
 Non-enforcement role vs.
World Trade CenterEnforcement
after 9-11

Construction site
 Incident Command
System
INCIDENT COMMANDER

SAFETY INFORMATION

LIAISON

FINANCE/
OPERATIONS PLANNING LOGISTICS ADMINISTRATION
 OSHA Requirements for
Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction
Industry
29 CFR 1926
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response
and Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
General Requirements for all
Workplaces
 29 CFR 1926.23: First Training:
Aid and Medical – In the absence of
attention, and readily accessible
 1926.50: Medical medical services, a
person with a valid
services and first aid
certificate in first aid
Procedures: training
– Ensure medical
personnel is available
for consultation and
advice on occupational
health matters
– Provide suitable
facilities for quick
drenching and flushing
of the eye
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
Additional Requirements for Workplaces referenced in other
standards
 29 CFR 1926.35: Training:
Employee emergency – Review emergency action
action plan plan with each employee
when the plan is
Procedures: developed, responsibilities
– Prepare and implement shift, or the emergency
a written action plan procedures change.
that includes: – Provide specific training to
• Emergency escape employees who are
procedures expected to assist in
evacuation
• Procedures for those
who remain to conduct
critical operations
• Means of reporting
fires and emergencies
• Procedures to account
for employees after the
emergency
 OSHA Requirements for Emergency
Response and Preparedness in
Construction Industry
General29 CFR 1926 for all
Requirements
Workplaces
 29 CFR 1926.34:
Means of egress
Procedures:
– Maintain
unobstructed egress
from every building
and structure where
employees are
working
– Mark all exits with
signs and mark
access to exits where
it is not immediately
apparent how to exit
 OSHA Requirements for Emergency
Response and Preparedness in
Construction Industry
29Requirements
General CFR 1926 for all
Workplaces
 29 CFR 1926.24: Fire
protection and
prevention,
 1926.150: Fire
protection
 1926.151: Fire Procedures:
prevention – Develop fire protection
program
– Provide fire
extinguishers and other
firefighting equipment
Training:
– If a fire brigade is
necessary, adequately
train them.
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926

Additional Requirements for Specific

Workplaces/Operations

 29 CFR 1926.64: PSM

of highly hazardous
chemicals
 29 CFR 1926.65:
HazWoper,
Emergency response
to hazardous
substance releases
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
Additional Requirements for Specific
Workplaces/Operations
 29 CFR 1926.651: – Provide and ensure the
Specific excavation use of a safety harness
requirements and lifeline when
employee(s) perform
Procedures:
work in bell-bottom
– Provide emergency pier holes or similar
rescue equipment when deep and confined
an excavation contains footing excavations
or potentially contains
a hazardous
atmosphere
– Ensure that person(s)
attend the equipment
in case of emergency.
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
Additional Requirements for Specific
Workplaces/Operations
 29 CFR 1926.800:
Underground
construction
Procedures:
– Develop and maintain a
check-in/check-out
procedure
– Provide means to
Training:
summon emergency
– Instruct employees on
assistance
fire prevention and
– Ensure monitoring is
emergency procedures
performed
– Ensure rescue teams are
– Select, provide, and
familiar with jobsite
make available approved conditions
self-rescuers
– Qualify rescue team
members at least
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
Additional Requirements for Specific
Workplaces/Operations
 29 CFR 1926.950:
Power Transmission
and Distribution
Procedures:
– Provide spotlights or
portable lights for
emergency lighting
when needed to work
safely at night
Training:
– Provide training and
ensure that employees
understand emergency
procedures and first aid
fundamentals,
including CPR
Exposure to
silica dust in
construction
work
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
Requirements that Support Emergency Response and
Preparedness
 29 CFR 1926.55: Gases, vapors, fumes, dust,
and mists
Procedures:
– Ensure that employee exposures do not exceed the
limits provided by the standard.
– Exposures should be limited through engineering
controls, administrative controls, and, as a last
resort, PPE

 29 CFR 1926.59: Hazard Communication

 29 CFR 1926.103: Respiratory Protection
 29 CFR 1926.1103: 13 Carcinogens
 29 CFR1926.1117: Vinyl chloride
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
Additional Requirements for Specific
Workplaces/Operations
 29 CFR 1926.60: Training:
Methylenedianiline – Provide employees with
(MDA) info and training on
Procedures: MDA, IAW 1910.1200(h)
– Develop and implement – Ensure employees who
a written plan for must wear respiratory
emergency situations protection, receive
where there is a training as per
possibility of an 1910.134
emergency:
• Identify emergency
escape routes before
construction begins
• Equipped employees
with PPE and clothing
until emergency is
abated
 OSHA Requirements for Emergency
Response and Preparedness in
Construction Industry
Health Hazard29 CFR Standards:
Related 1926 Cadmium (Cd)
29 CFR 1926.1127: Training:
Cadmium –Provide training to include
– Wrecking, demolishing, and emergency procedures, prior
salvaging structures to/at the time of initial
assignment to a job involving
–Cutting, brazing, grinding, or
potential exposure to Cd
welding
–Ensure employees who must
Procedures:
wear respiratory protection
–Develop and implement a receive training (29 CFR
written 1910.134)
plan
–Select and provide
appropriate respirators forHAZARD...CAN
DANGER...CADMIUM...CANCER
emergencies
CAUSE LUNG AND KIDNEY DISEASE...
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY...RESPIRATORS
REQUIRED IN THIS AREA
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
Requirements that Support Emergency Response and
Preparedness
 29 CFR 1926.28:
Personal Protection
Equipment (PPE)
 29 CFR 1926.95:
Criteria for PPE
Procedures:
– Provide and ensure the
use and maintenance of
appropriate PPE for site
operations and hazards
– Ensure any employee-
owned equipment is
adequately and
properly maintained
 OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926

For additional information on Emergency Preparedness,

visit
OSHA’s web site at www.osha.gov

and select “Safety and Health Topics”

Emergency preparedness
 U.S. Department of Labor
Occupational Safety & Health Administration

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nation's domestic preparedness and emergency response Responders
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Specialty topics include, Chemical, Biological, Bioterrorism, National
Radiation, Personal Protective Equipment, Training and Response
Education, Safety Equipment. System
Additional
The following questions link to resources that provide safety and health information relevant Assistance
to Emergency Preparedness and Response materials in the workplace. Credits

What standards apply?

OSHA Standards | Preambles to OSHA Standards | Directives | More

What tools are available for Responders?

First Responders | First Receivers | Skilled Support Personnel | Safety Officers |
More

What tools are available for General Worksites?

Emergency Action Plans | Evacuation Matrix | Fire/ Explosion Matrix |
ReadyBusiness | More

How does OSHA support the National Response System?

Worker S&H Annex | NRP | NEMP | I nside the Green Line | More

Where can I find additional information?

DHS | DOL | White House | CDC/ NI OSH | NI C | USPS | More

I n Focus

What's New
eTools Home : Evacuation Plans and Procedures PDF | Viewing / Printing I nstructions | Credits

This eTool will help small, low-hazard service or retail businesses implement an emergency action plan, and comply with OSHA's
emergency standards.

The eTool is not an OSHA standard or regulation, and it creates no legal obligations. Likewise, the eTool does not eliminate or limit
any obligations that may be created by the OSH Act or by OSHA standards or regulations.

Workplace Evaluation | Emergency Action Plan | Expert Systems | Additional Assistance | Site Map

eTools Home : Evacuation Plans and Procedures PDF | Viewing / Printing I nstructions | Credits
eTools Home : Evacuation Plans and Procedures Viewing / Printing I nstructions | Credits

OSHA's Expert System - Emergency Action Plan

START OVER | EXI T

I ntroduction to the Emergency Action Plan Expert System
Disclaimer

An emergency action plan (EAP) is a written document required by particular OSHA standards. The
purpose of an EAP is to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace
emergencies. The elements of the plan must include, but are not limited to:

 Evacuation procedures and emergency escape 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 an emergency evacuation has been completed.
 Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them.
 Means of reporting fires and other emergencies.
 Names or job titles of persons who can be contacted for further information or explanation of
duties under the plan.

This expert system will help you to create a simple EAP. This basic plan will be adequate for needs of
many small and medium- sized entities. This basic plan may not be adequate for large establishments or
those with more significant hazards. Users in such establishments should consider the special
characteristics of their workplaces. Users can supplement this basic plan to address any situations that
require special attention.

Most small and medium- sized entities will get their basic plans from this system in 10 to 15 minutes.
Please remember that this system does not save the plan it helps you to write, so you should save and/ or
print your plan when it is completed.

This OSHA Expert only provides information based on Federal OSHA Emergency Action Plan requirements.
I f you are covered by a state OSHA plan you may need to contact your local state OSHA office.

Please visit the OSHA Expert User Guide to obtain further instruction.

Workplace Evaluation | Emergency Action Plan | Expert Systems | Additional Assistance | Site Map
OSHA Requirements for Emergency Response and
Preparedness in Construction Industry
29 CFR 1926
Health Hazard Related Standards: Asphalt Fumes

Methods for reducing

asphalt fume exposure:
– Substituting low
fume asphalt
– Isolate process and
minimize generation
of fumes
– Control devices for
reducing asphalt
fume emissions
– Training and
education
– Proper use of PPE