Breaking Point

ac·​tion | \ ˈak-shən

2: an act of will

\ˈplan 

2a: a method for achieving an end

An Emergency Action Plan, also known as an Occupant Emergency Plan by OSHA, is generally required for organizations or locations that have an occupancy of 10 or more persons. The reality of the matter is that an EAP (or OEP) is not only a GOOD IDEA to have in place, it's a GREAT IDEA to have in place. 

Think of an EAP as a fire drill on steroids. The factors involved in planning for the safety of your staff and members have drastically improved in their application, details, and complexity since the fire drills of elementary school. In fact, schools, with such a large student population, have benefited greatly from investing time and effort in developing their plans for responding to emergencies.

Your business needs an EAP. Think of the number of people that occupy the location of your business. If you have any turnover at all of employees (even volunteers), if you add to or expand your location, if your operations change, you need to revisit your EAP (if you have one).

The REAL concern of being prepared, is this: the EAP will reveal gaps and shortcomings in your preparedness efforts that will directly affect your continuity success--the viability of your business AFTER the disaster. 

For the most part, planning for the Continuity Of OPerations (COOP) usually takes place after you have successfully implemented your EAP. 

In short, an EAP addresses the following general areas:

• Means of reporting emergencies

• Evacuation procedures and escape route assignments

• Procedures to be followed by employees involved in critical operations before they evacuate

• Accountability of personnel/employees

• Rescue & medical duties 

• Contact information for critical personnel

• Explanation of duties under the plan

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Within the EAP, instructions are given to address:

• Weather emergencies

• Hazardous Materials exposure

• Natural and manmade emergencies 

• Active Shooter / Active Threat Response

• Relocation of operations

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All EAPs are not the same. Site/location/operational/personnel activities, restrictions, and requirements can add to, subtract from, and drastically change with personnel changes and system requirements. 

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Your plan for continuity will use your EAP as a basic plan to start from, and the Plan (ConPlan) will likely cause changes to your EAP. 

Your ConPlan will address:

• What & who  initiates the continuity efforts?

• Primary and alternate locations

• Assignment of staff/employees to alternate sites

• Alternate resources (desks, computers, phones, etc.)

• Emergency Relocation Group (ERG)

• Graduated production or work product 

• Estimated time to X% of production

• Return to Primary or Rebuild?

• Return to Normal

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Among other facets of your business and processes. 

Your Business Needs One