What is the Role of Coordinators and Evacuation Wardens During an Emergency?

How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations

What is a Workplace Emergency?

When drafting your emergency action plan, you may wish to select a responsible individual to lead and coordinate your emergency plan and evacuation. It is critical that employees know who the coordinator is and understand that person has the authority to make decisions during emergencies.

The coordinator should be responsible for the following:

• Assessing the situation to determine whether an emergency exists requiring activation of your emergency procedures;
• Supervising all efforts in the area, including evacuating personnel;
• Coordinating outside emergency services, such as medical aid and local fire departments, and ensuring that they are available and notified when necessary; and
• Directing the shutdown of plant operations when required.

You also may find it beneficial to coordinate the action plan with other employers when several employers share the worksite, although OSHA standards do not specifically require this.

In addition to a coordinator, you may want to designate evacuation wardens to help move employees from danger to safe areas during an emergency. Generally, one warden for every 20 employees should be adequate, and the appropriate number of wardens should be available at all times during working hours.

Employees designated to assist in emergency evacuation procedures should be trained in the complete workplace layout and various alternative escape routes. All employees and those designated to assist in emergencies should be made aware of employees with special needs who may require extra assistance, how to use the buddy system, and hazardous areas to avoid during an emergency evacuation.