Unexpected simply means “not expecting.”  For example, no one expects an emergency or disaster to happen – especially at your place of business.  However, as nature and society fluctuate, an emergency or disaster can happen at any time and any place, including at your place of business.

A workplace emergency can be any situation that threatens your employees, customers or the public, disrupts or shuts down your operations, or causes physical or environmental damage.  Examples of emergencies may include:

• Workplace violence 

• Heart attack or seizure

• Tornado

• Flood

• Fire

• Hurricane

• Civil disturbance

• Chemical spill

• Chemical or biological weapon attack

• Toxic gas release

• Radiological accident

• Explosion

So, what do you do if one of these events happens?  The best way to survive an emergency is to plan how you will response before the event occurs and train people how to respond.  If you expect and prepare for the worst that can happen, you will be prepared for anything that can happen.  Having a plan ready to guide you when immediate action is required will help when dealing with an emergency.  That is why OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards require you to have an emergency action plan in writing that will help facilitate and organize employer and employee acts during workplace emergencies.  The plan must include, at a minimum, the following:

• Evacuation procedures and emergency escape route assignments

• Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to run critical 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

 When preparing for the worst, also consider:

• Making sure that clear access to all exits and safety equipment is maintained at all times

• Holding practice drills to keep employees prepared

• Evaluating the effectiveness of the drill

• Training your employees in first-aid procedures

• Giving all contact information (including individual employee information and means of contacting family members) to reliable sources outside of the company  

• Looking for ways to improve your plan and modify it as new threats emerge

Employees could also be exposed to unusual hazards in the event of an emergency, such as accidental chemical splashes, falling objects, flying particles, unknown atmospheres with inadequate oxygen or toxic gases, fires, live electrical wiring and/or similar emergencies.  You need to evaluate special training and personal protective equipment (PPE) that may be required to handle those emergencies.  Some examples of special PPE are:

• Safety glasses, goggles, or face shields for eye protection

• Hard hats and safety shoes

• Properly selected and fitted respirators (requires compliance with OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard 1910.134)

• Whole body coverings, gloves, hoods and boots

• Body protection for abnormal environmental conditions

You can also prepare for an emergency by clearly communicating to your employees with e-mails, practice drills and signage.  Examples of signs that should be posted include emergency telephone numbers, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and emergency eye wash locations, emergency exits, caution signs, and state and federal, OSHA and labor law postings (required).   Be aware of language barriers and use symbols or more than one language for signs so that all employees are able to understand them during an emergency.

The most critical reason for well-developed disaster plan is to anticipate what might happen, plan what you will do to respond, and train your employees how to react.  If you do this, they will know what to do and will be able to do it automatically without confusion or panic when an emergency occurs.  Having a comprehensive, well developed and thought out action plan created and understood prior to an emergency is the key to surviving the emergency.