Emergencies can create a variety of hazards for workers in the impacted area. Preparing before an emergency incident plays a vital role in ensuring that employers and workers have the necessary equipment, know where to go, and know how to keep themselves safe when an emergency occurs. It is essential to understand how to prepare and train for emergencies and the hazards to be aware of. An emergency can occur for employers and workers across industries and workers need to understand how to safely respond without endangering themselves.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has information on how to prepare and train for emergencies and the hazards to be aware of when an emergency occurs. These resources include information for employers and workers and for those who will be responding to the emergency.
Resources are separated in to categories:
- General Preparedness and Response
- Natural Disaster and Weather
- Oil, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Incidents
- Disease Agents and Toxins
- Resources and Guides
Click here to access the resources.
In related news, OSHA has scheduled an informal hearing on Nov. 12, 2024, to hear comments and testimony from the public on OSHA’s proposal to update an existing standard and expand safety and health protections for emergency responders, including firefighters, emergency medical service providers and technical search and rescue workers.
Click here for more information on this hearing and OSHA’s Emergency Response Rulemaking.
