Drafting an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for At-Risk Workers

Workplace safety should always be a priority, especially for workers whose jobs put them at higher risk of injury. This includes those working at construction sites, mines, industrial sites, farms, and areas susceptible to natural disasters.

To ensure workers' safety in case of an emergency, Australia has made it a legal condition for all workplaces to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place. However, you must ensure that your EAP meets the regulatory standards. But what is an emergency action plan, and how does one draft it? Let's explore.

What is an Emergency Action Plan?

Emergency Action Plans encompass details regarding how workers need to respond in the event of different kinds of emergencies. EAPs are a pivotal element of any company's safety procedures. After the EAP is created and employees are trained, there is a reduced risk of property damage, employee injuries, and even fatalities.

Basically, it's best to cover all your bases to prevent your at-risk employees from getting harmed and evading legal trouble.

Tips for Drafting an EAP for At-Risk Workers

Depending on the industry you operate in and other aspects, there are different ways to develop an emergency action plan. Here are some valuable tips for drafting an effective EAP that every organisation should know.

Conduct a Thorough Risk Assessment

The primary purpose of an emergency action plan is to assess all risks, so they can be dealt with appropriately. Therefore, the first step in drafting an EAP is conducting a risk assessment. This will help you identify all possible emergencies that can occur at the workplace. Of course, most of the risks you not will be specific to your organisation's work and the locations where your work takes place.

When doing this, you should also consider each emergency's prospective outcome to cover all bases better. Your emergency action plan can be more effective and detailed when you understand each risk and its effects.

It's also a great idea to use risk assessment guides, like the ones SafetyIQ offers, as they can help narrow down the areas of concern and how to address them efficiently.

Use an Emergency Action Plan Template

When developing an emergency plan for the first time, looking to existing resources can help you start strong and ensure you don't overlook any crucial details. The Australian Government's Business website offers a template for an emergency action plan that you can use.

Document Your Facilities and Worksites

Develop floor and site plans so that emergency personnel and employees can understand the physical layout of your organisation. It should show each entrance and where the utility controls, security systems, and emergency equipment are located. This allows employees working, for example, at an industrial plant, to know precisely how to evacuate in case of an emergency and how they can access controls, such as fire alarms.

Assess Available Resources

When developing an EAP, you must identify external and internal resources available so that the emergency response can be prompt. External resources usually include public services, such as:

• Law enforcement
• Emergency medical services
• Fire departments

Internal services can be trained individuals present on site and tools, such as fire extinguishers or alarm systems. Ensure that when drafting the EAP, all the contact information and names of emergency services and individuals are accurate and up-to-date, so there is no confusion in case of an emergency.

Keep Employees Involved

Throughout the process of developing your EAP, keep relevant employees involved. You can create a rough draft and share it with them to get helpful feedback. Different perspectives can help you gather valuable insights you may have missed earlier.

Use the SafetyIQ App to Take a Proactive Approach to Worker Safety

A total of 146 workers were killed in Australia in 2022. This shows how important it is to put worker safety first in such losses, especially for individuals in high-risk environments, such as construction sites, industrial sites, farms, and more.

Luckily, some tools make monitoring and improving employees' safety simpler. SafetyIQ is a worker safety software solution that allows you to perform customised risk assessments and automate safety processes to save time and money in keeping your workers safe.

SafetyIQ offers valuable worker safety software that allows companies to monitor teams working in high-risk environments. Whether teams are on a journey, working alone at a remote site (lone worker), working from home, or on-site, you get a clear view of every single employee, so you can account for their safety and take proactive approaches to mitigate all risks.

In Summary

An emergency action plan is a guide for employees to follow in the event of an emergency. How does an emergency action plan benefit your workplace? It reduces costs and risks, helps you avoid legal trouble, and allows you and your employees to undertake your tasks safely and confidently. SafetyIQ offers a complete worker safety software solution that enables you to keep track of all at-risk workers and make safety a priority. Request a demo today to better understand the software's value.