An emergency action plan (EAP) is a written document required by Cal/OSHA standard, 8 CCR 3220, to facilitate and organize employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies.
The University Emergency Action Plan (EAP), also called the Emergency Response Handbook, is currently being incorporated into a cohesive University Emergency Response Procedures guidance document. Going forward, the SF State Office of Emergency Services (OES) is managing the EAP and related emergency response procedures to meet additional regulatory requirements.
To meet this Cal/OSHA requirement, the following information must be included and communicated to employees.
(1) Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments;
(2) Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate;
(3) Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed;
(4) Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties;
(5) The preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies; and
(6) Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.
(7) The types of evacuation to be used in emergency circumstances
To meet this Cal/OSHA requirement in 8 CCR 3221, the following information must be included and communicated to employees.
(1) Potential fire hazards and their proper handling and storage procedures, potential ignition sources (such as welding, smoking and others) and their control procedures, and the type of fire protection equipment or systems which can control a fire involving them;
(2) Names or regular job titles of those responsible for maintenance of equipment and systems installed to prevent or control ignitions or fires; and
SF State: For employees with more specific responsibilities under the Fire Prevention Plan, Appendix B is a supplement to the FPP that describes Facilities Services’ responsibilities.
(3) Names or regular job titles of those responsible for the control of accumulation of flammable or combustible waste materials.
(c) Housekeeping. The employer shall control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues so that they do not contribute to a fire emergency. The housekeeping procedures shall be included in the written fire prevention plan.
(d) Training. (1) The employer shall apprise employees of the fire hazards of the materials and processes to which they are exposed.
Training and Communication
All university employees are assigned training on the EAP through CSU Learn when they first start work and every three years thereafter. Significant updates in between may be communicated via email, the website and the Campus Memo.
Since the regulatory requirements for emergency preparedness under the Fire Prevention Plan (FPP), Emergency Action Plan (EAP), and Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP) greatly overlap, training on these requirements were combined into a single Emergency Action Plan training course assigned to all employees.