Fire Safety Emergency Action Plans and Incident Command — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, which of the following is a REQUIRED element of a written Emergency Action Plan?
- A floor plan with sprinkler head locations marked
- Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency (Correct answer)
- The annual cost of fire suppression system maintenance
- Contact information for the local fire marshal's office
Correct answer: Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency
OSHA 1910.38 specifies required EAP elements including: procedures for reporting emergencies, procedures for emergency evacuation (including evacuation routes and exit assignments), procedures for employees who perform critical plant operations before evacuating, procedures to account for all employees after evacuation, procedures for rescue or medical duties, and names/job titles of persons to contact for plan information. The fire marshal's contact and sprinkler maps may be good practice but are not OSHA-required EAP elements.
Question 2: In the Incident Command System (ICS), who holds ultimate responsibility for all incident management activities?
- The Safety Officer
- The Operations Section Chief
- The Incident Commander (Correct answer)
- The Logistics Section Chief
Correct answer: The Incident Commander
The Incident Commander (IC) is the individual responsible for all incident management activities, including the development of strategies and tactics, the ordering and release of resources, and the overall safety of responders and others at the incident. The Safety Officer monitors conditions and advises the IC on safety matters but has no command authority. Section Chiefs (Operations, Logistics, Planning, Finance) manage their respective sections under the IC.
Question 3: What is the purpose of an employee accountability system as part of an Emergency Action Plan?
- To document employee attendance for payroll purposes during evacuations
- To confirm all employees have evacuated and identify anyone unaccounted for after a fire alarm (Correct answer)
- To assign employees to firefighting teams based on their physical fitness level
- To ensure employees return to work promptly after false alarms
Correct answer: To confirm all employees have evacuated and identify anyone unaccounted for after a fire alarm
An accountability system — typically a headcount at a pre-designated assembly point — ensures that all employees, contractors, and visitors are accounted for after an evacuation. This is critical because it allows emergency responders to know whether anyone may be trapped or unaccounted for inside the building, which directly affects search-and-rescue operations. OSHA 1910.38(c)(4) requires EAPs to include procedures to account for all employees after evacuation.
Question 4: An Emergency Action Plan is REQUIRED by OSHA in written form when a workplace has more than how many employees?
- 5 employees
- 10 employees (Correct answer)
- 25 employees
- 50 employees
Correct answer: 10 employees
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38(b) requires Emergency Action Plans to be in writing and kept in the workplace when there are more than 10 employees. For workplaces with 10 or fewer employees, the plan may be communicated orally. However, even when oral communication is permitted, a written EAP is considered best practice and is strongly recommended regardless of workforce size.
Question 5: Which ICS principle ensures that no supervisor is responsible for more than a manageable number of subordinates during an emergency?
- Unity of command
- Span of control (Correct answer)
- Modular organization
- Comprehensive resource management
Correct answer: Span of control
Span of control refers to the number of individuals or resources one supervisor can effectively manage. ICS guidelines recommend a span of control between 3 and 7, with 5 being optimal. When a supervisor's span of control is exceeded, the organizational structure expands by creating additional supervisory positions (e.g., expanding from single crews to groups, divisions, or branches). This prevents overload and maintains effective coordination.
Question 6: Before firefighters arrive at an emergency, who is responsible for implementing the Emergency Action Plan and directing initial employee response?
- The most senior employee present, regardless of training
- Designated emergency coordinators or wardens identified in the EAP (Correct answer)
- The building's sprinkler system technician
- Any employee certified in first aid
Correct answer: Designated emergency coordinators or wardens identified in the EAP
OSHA requires EAPs to identify employees with specific emergency duties — commonly called emergency coordinators, fire wardens, or floor wardens. These designated individuals are responsible for alerting occupants, directing evacuation to exits and assembly areas, performing sweeps of their assigned areas, and reporting to the incident commander. Relying on 'the most senior person present' without pre-designation creates confusion during the high-stress early minutes of an emergency.
Fire Safety Emergency Action Plans and Incident Command
Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, which of the following is a REQUIRED element of a written Emergency Action Plan?