• Emergency action plan training should be conducted when new employees are hired, new equipment, materials, or processes are introduced, or procedures are updated or revised.
• Training requirements depend on the size of the workplace and workforce, processes used, materials handled, and more.
• Training should address emergency response procedures, individual roles and responsibilities, notification, warning, and communications procedures, and more.

Before implementing the emergency action plan, employers should designate and train enough people to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of employees. Depending on the hazards, training sessions may need to be conducted at least annually or when:

• Employees are hired.
• Evacuation wardens, shelter managers, and others with special assignments are designated.
• New equipment, materials, or processes are introduced.
• Procedures are updated or revised.
• Exercises show that employee performance must be improved.

The size of the workplace and workforce, processes used, materials handled, and the availability of on-site or outside resources will determine the training requirements. General training for all employees should address:

• Individual roles and responsibilities.
• Information about threats, hazards and protective actions.
• Notification, warning and communications procedures.
• Means for locating family members in an emergency.
• Emergency response procedures.
• Evacuation, shelter and accountability procedures.
• Location and use of common emergency equipment.
• Emergency shutdown procedures.

Training should discuss any special hazards such as flammable materials, toxic chemicals, radioactive sources, or water-reactive substances. Employees should learn of the fire hazards to which they are exposed and each employee should learn whichever parts of the fire prevention plan are necessary for self-protection.

Assigning training responsibilities

Employers should assign responsibility for developing a training plan. A plan should take into account the training and information needs for employees, contractors, visitors, managers and those with an emergency response role identified in the plan.

A training plan should determine for a 12-month period:

• Who will be trained?
• Who will do the training?
• What training activities will be used?
• When and where each session will take place?
• How the session will be evaluated and documented?

Other steps to take include:

• Considering how to involve community responders in training activities.
• Conducting reviews after each training activity, making sure to involve both personnel and community responders in the evaluation process.