The effectiveness of departmental emergency response
plans depends on planning and training performed before the emergency or disaster. If
supervisors support safety programs and disaster planning, employees will view the program
as worthwhile. The development of a written plan is vital to gain employee support.
Departmental plans should be comprehensive enough to deal with all types of disasters,
including as a minimum, the following elements: escape procedures, pre-and post-
evacuation procedures, reporting procedures, and personnel emergency call lists.
All employees should be trained and the plan updated annually or when a new employee is
hired; when new equipment, materials, or processes are introduced; when procedures are
updated or revised; or when routine drills show that employee performance must be
improved.