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Free template · OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38

Free emergency action plan template

A fill-in emergency action plan that follows every minimum element OSHA 1910.38 requires, plus a blank evacuation map. US Letter, PDF and Word, free, no sign-up.

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6 OSHA minimum elements
Alarm, training and review logs
Evacuation map page
First page of the free emergency action plan template: cover, emergency contacts, reporting and evacuation sections

What is an emergency action plan?

An emergency action plan (EAP) is the written document that tells employees what to do when a fire or another emergency strikes: how to raise the alarm, which exit route to take, where to gather and who is in charge.

OSHA’s rule is short: “An employer must have an emergency action plan whenever an OSHA standard in this part requires one” (29 CFR 1910.38(a)). In practice the fire-related standards make it a requirement for many workplaces — for example, an employer who requires employees to evacuate rather than fight a fire with portable extinguishers needs an EAP that meets 1910.38.

The plan must be in writing, kept in the workplace and available to employees. Employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate it orally.

What OSHA requires in an emergency action plan

At a minimum, an emergency action plan must include these six elements (29 CFR 1910.38(c)). The template has a section for each.

Reporting a fire or other emergency

“Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency.” — 1910.38(c)(1)

Emergency evacuation

“Procedures for emergency evacuation, including type of evacuation and exit route assignments.” — 1910.38(c)(2)

Critical operations

“Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate.” — 1910.38(c)(3)

Accounting for employees

“Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation.” — 1910.38(c)(4)

Rescue and medical duties

“Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue or medical duties.” — 1910.38(c)(5)

Plan contacts

“The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan.” — 1910.38(c)(6)
  • Employee alarm system — a distinctive signal for each purpose, compliant with 1910.165 (1910.38(d)).
  • Training — designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation (1910.38(e)).
  • Review — go over the plan with each employee when it is developed, when their duties change and when the plan changes (1910.38(f)).
  • Written and available — kept in the workplace for employees to review; oral plans are allowed with 10 or fewer employees (1910.38(b)).

What’s inside the template

Ten sections and an evacuation map, ready to print on US Letter or to edit in Word.
  • Cover page: facility, plan owner, preparation and review dates
  • Emergency contacts, with 911 and the Poison Help line pre-filled
  • Reporting procedures and evacuation type (total, partial, shelter in place)
  • Exit route assignments by area, with primary and secondary routes and assembly points
  • Critical operations shutdown before evacuating
  • Headcount procedure for employees, visitors and contractors
  • Rescue and medical duties (first aid, CPR, AED)
  • Plan contacts, alarm signals, training and drill log, review log
  • Evacuation map page with a scaled grid and a symbol legend

How to fill in your emergency action plan

  1. 1

    Walk the facility

    Note every exit, exit route, alarm pull station, extinguisher, first aid kit and AED, and the areas with critical equipment.
  2. 2

    Assign people

    Name the emergency coordinator, the evacuation wardens, the employees who shut down critical operations and those with rescue or medical duties.
  3. 3

    Write the procedures

    Fill in how to report an emergency, the exit route for each area, the assembly points and the headcount procedure.
  4. 4

    Draw the evacuation map

    Sketch the floor plan on the map page, mark “You are here”, the exit routes and the safety equipment, and post it in each area.
  5. 5

    Train, drill and review

    Review the plan with every employee, run a drill, log it, and update the plan whenever the building or the team changes.

How an emergency action plan benefits your workplace

Beyond compliance, a written plan that everyone has reviewed changes how an evacuation goes.

Faster, calmer evacuations

Employees already know the signal, their exit route and the assembly point, so they move instead of hesitating.

Nobody left behind

A headcount procedure and named wardens make it possible to tell emergency services quickly if someone is missing.

Safer shutdowns

Critical equipment is shut down by the right people, in the right order, before they leave.

Ready for inspections

A written plan with training and review logs shows what is in place when an inspector, an insurer or a client asks.

Turn the map page into a professional evacuation plan

A hand-drawn sketch works, but employees read a clean, to-scale evacuation map faster. Fabrik turns your floor plan into a printable evacuation map with standard safety symbols.
Import your floor plan, then trace walls, doors and windows with dimensions and snapping.
Lay out the plan with its legend and instructions, then export a PDF ready to post.

Emergency action plan vs. emergency response plan

The emergency action plan is what OSHA 1910.38 requires: how employees report, evacuate and account for everyone. An emergency response plan usually covers the wider organizational response and recovery. Start with the EAP — it is the part every employee needs to know.

Emergency action plan template: FAQ

What is an emergency action plan?

An emergency action plan (EAP) is a written document that sets out how employees report an emergency, evacuate, account for everyone and who does what. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, an employer must have one whenever an OSHA standard requires it, and the plan must cover at least the six minimum elements listed in paragraph (c).

What is the purpose of an emergency action plan?

Its purpose is to organize employer and employee actions during a workplace emergency, so that everyone knows how to raise the alarm, which exit route to take, where to gather and who to contact. A clear plan reduces confusion and injuries during an evacuation.

Does every business need a written emergency action plan?

OSHA requires an EAP whenever an OSHA standard requires one. The plan must be in writing, kept in the workplace and available to employees, but an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally (1910.38(b)).

How often should the emergency action plan be reviewed with employees?

OSHA 1910.38(f) requires reviewing the plan with each covered employee when the plan is developed or the employee is first assigned to a job, when the employee’s responsibilities under the plan change, and when the plan is changed.

Is this template approved by OSHA?

OSHA does not approve templates. This template is structured around the minimum elements of 29 CFR 1910.38 and leaves room for your own procedures; you remain responsible for adapting it to your facility and to the standards that apply to your workplace.

What is the difference between an emergency action plan and an emergency response plan?

An emergency action plan covers what employees do to stay safe: reporting, evacuating and accounting for everyone. An emergency response plan usually goes further and covers how the organization responds to and recovers from an incident. The EAP is the OSHA-required core that the response plan builds on.

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