What emergency response procedures must an employer implement?

The importance of rapidly and effectively obtaining emergency medical services in the event of a serious injury or illness cannot be overstated. Particularly at non-fixed work sites or at sites that are difficult to access, the employer, having evaluated whether the work site is served by the 911 system, needs to be ready to contact and communicate with emergency responders.

Emergency medical services must be provided as quickly as possible if an employee suffers heat illness. The employer’s procedures must include contacting emergency medical services when necessary, as well as taking immediate steps to keep a stricken employee cool and comfortable once emergency service responders have been called. The goal is to stop the rapid progression to more serious illness, which can include mental confusion, loss of consciousness, and seizures.

As a result, employers must ensure that supervisors and employees are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat illness, take steps immediately to prevent the progression of heat illness, provide basic first aid (such as cooling towels and shade), obtain emergency medical services, and not allow an employee with signs or symptoms of heat illness to be left alone or sent home without being offered onsite first aid or provided with emergency medical services. Employers, however, are not required to provide medical personnel on site, and supervisors and employees are not expected to have medical expertise to diagnose heat illness.

Establishing emergency response procedures is particularly important at non-fixed or remote work sites or where access is difficult. If employees cannot reach emergency medical services directly (because cell phone coverage is inadequate, for example), the employer must designate a person who can immediately contact emergency services on behalf of the employees. The employees must be able to reach this person quickly (such as by radio) to request that emergency medical services be summoned. If, however, employees are able to contact emergency medical services directly, they must be allowed to do so in an emergency and must not be required to contact a supervisor first.

Employers must be prepared to transport employees safely to a place where they can be reached by an emergency medical provider where necessary. Mobile crews must be provided with a map of their location or detailed, clear, and precise directions that can be given to emergency responders.