This document outlines steps for developing an effective evacuation plan and procedure. It recommends determining conditions that require evacuation and establishing clear command. Specific evacuation routes and exits should be designated, marked, and unobstructed. Assembly areas where personnel gather after evacuating need to be planned as well, with head counts taken. Employees should be trained annually or as needed to ensure they know evacuation procedures. Practicing evacuation helps ensure employees can safely exit and avoid panic in an emergency.

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© 2016 National Safety Council
Evacuation Plans
For use in conjunction with 5-Minute Safety Talk

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Protecting the lives of everyone within your facility
is the first priority in the event of an emergency.
One common means of protection is evacuation.

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In the case of fire, an immediate evacuation to a
predetermined area away from your facility may be
necessary.

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Steps to develop an
evacuation policy & procedure
 Determine the conditions under which an evacuation would be necessary
 Establish a clear chain of command
 Establish specific evacuation procedures
 Establish a system for accounting for personnel - Consider employees’
transportation needs for community-wide evacuations
 Establish procedures for assisting personnel with disabilities and those
who do not speak English. Post evacuation procedures
 Designate personnel to continue or shut down critical operations while an
evacuation is underway. They must be capable of recognizing when to
abandon the operation and evacuate themselves
 Coordinate plans with your local emergency management office

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Evacuation routes & exits
Designate primary and secondary
evacuation routes and exits
– Make sure routes and exits are
clearly marked and well lit
– Post signs
– Install emergency lighting in case a
power outage occurs during an
evacuation

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Ensure evacuation routes &
emergency exits are:
• Wide enough to accommodate the
number of evacuating personnel
• Clear and unobstructed at all times
• Unlikely to expose evacuating
personnel to additional hazards
Have evacuation routes evaluated by someone not in
your organization

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Assembly areas & accountability
Accurately accounting for
personnel after a site
evacuation requires
planning and practice.

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1. Designate assembly areas
where personnel should gather
after evacuating
2. Take a head count after the
evacuation – determining the
names and last known locations of
personnel not accounted for. List to
be given to Emergency Operations
Center.
3. Establish a method for
accounting for non-employees
such as suppliers and customers
4. Establish procedures for further
evacuation in case the incident
expands. This may involve sending
employees home by normal means
or providing them with transportation
to an off-site location
Assembly areas & accountability

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Train your employees in
evacuation:
Conduct sessions at least annually or when:
• New employees are hired
• Evacuation wardens, shelter managers, and others
with special assignments are designated
• New equipment, materials or processes are introduced
• Procedures are revised
• Exercises show that employee performance must be
improved

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Provide emergency information such as checklists and
evacuation maps
Post evacuation maps in strategic locations
Consider the information
needs of customers and
others who visit your facility

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By keeping these guidelines in place and practicing
evacuation, we can ensure our employees know
how to safely exit the facility and avoid panic.

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Emergency Preparedness Toolkit
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Emergency Preparedness
2-Minute Safety Video
Emergency Preparedness 2-Minute Safety Video

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sign in at nsc.org/members
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NSC Emergency Preparedness
Workplace Training Now Available
Go further in depth with this course. Content includes 8 independent modules on:
1. Evacuation
2. Weather and Natural Disasters
3. Shelter in Place Emergencies
4. Medical Emergencies
5. Workplace Violence
6. Active Shooter
7. Terrorism Emergencies
8. Communication Before and After Emergencies
Call (800) 621-7619 or visit nsc.org/ep for more information and member pricing.