A responsible person may be chosen to lead and coordinate the emergency plan. Employees must know who this coordinator is and understand that the coordinator has the authority to make decisions during emergencies. The coordinator should be responsible for:
- Determining when an emergency exists and activating emergency procedures;
- Supervising all efforts, including evacuating personnel;
- Coordinating outside emergency services, and ensuring that they are notified when necessary; and
- Directing the shutdown of plant operations when required.