If you face an unforeseen emergency at work, such as a fire or explosion, don't waste precious moments trying to figure out what to do and who to listen to. Your emergency plan should have a chain of command that gives one person overall responsibility for managing the incident, and supervising other employees responsible for carrying out specific tasks. For guidance on how emergency plans affect insurance, see Emergency Preparedness and Insurance Implications.
At the top of the chain is the emergency scene commander, a trained employee who will issue orders to others during the emergency. This person might be a facility manager, emergency director, or some other supervisor. The commander's responsibilities will include:
Emergency scene commander responsibilities
- Assessing the incident to determine if it requires an emergency response
- Supervising emergency scene coordinators (volunteer employees trained in various emergency tasks)
- Coordinating professional responders, such as ambulance, police, and fire departments
- Directing shutdown of critical workplace equipment and/or operations
- Determining the need for an evacuation and managing an evacuation
- Supervising the activities of emergency scene coordinators
Each of these coordinators should be responsible for a specific number of employees in a particular work area. They should know how to respond to worksite emergencies, direct evacuation procedures, and use emergency communication equipment. Make sure to train the coordinators in CPR, first aid, and responses to threats of violence. For additional workplace preparedness resources, see Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Coordinators' responsibilities
- Checking rooms and other enclosed spaces for employees who might be trapped or unable to evacuate
- Knowing who might need assistance during an evacuation and how to help them
- Coordinating emergency activities of employees
- Knowing the workplace layout, appropriate escape routes, and areas that employees must not enter during an evacuation
- Verifying that all employees are in designated safe areas after evacuation
Our risk management professionals would be happy to provide a comprehensive review of your emergency plans, or talk to an agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should be the emergency scene commander?
The commander should be a trained employee with authority to coordinate responses, often a facility manager or supervisor familiar with the site's operations and emergency plans.
What basic training should emergency coordinators have?
Coordinators should be trained in evacuation procedures, emergency communication, CPR, and first aid appropriate to workplace hazards.
How do you help employees who need assistance during an evacuation?
Identify employees who may need help in advance, assign trained coordinators to assist them, and include specific procedures in your emergency plan.
When should professional responders be called?
Call professional responders whenever an incident exceeds the workplace's ability to control it safely, or when there are injuries or significant hazards present.