Safety and Health Plan Component - Contingency Plan

In an emergency, the safety and health of workers depends upon decisive action and quick thinking. Delays can be fatal. For this reason, OSHA requires a Contingency Plan. This is a written document that has policies and procedures for responding to site emergencies.

The Contingency Plan must include the following information:

• Personnel (including roles, lines of authority, training, and communication for emergency procedures)
• Site (mapping, security and control, refuges, and evacuation routes for emergency procedures)
• Medical support and first aid for emergency procedures
• Equipment needed for emergency procedures
• Emergency procedures
• Documentation and reporting following emergency procedures

The Contingency Plan must exist as a section of the Site Safety Plan. In addition, it must do the following:

• It must comply with and integrate into the pollution response, disaster, fire, and emergency plans of local, state, and federal agencies.
• It must be rehearsed regularly using drills and mock situations.
• It must be reviewed periodically in response to new or changing site conditions or information.

To learn more about HAZWOPER visit our HAZWOPER 40 Hour Online Training web page.