Who Should be Trained on the Contents of an Emergency Action Plan?

In any workplace, “Who should be trained on the contents of an emergency action plan?” is not just a regulatory question—it’s a question of safety, legal liability, and organizational readiness. From frontline workers to management to emergency team members and outside partners, having the right people fully trained on an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) can literally mean the difference between a controlled response and a disaster.

Why Training on an Emergency Action Plan Matters

Before we dive into who, it’s critical to understand why training is required and what the legal baseline is in the U.S.

Regulatory foundation

• OSHA’s standard 29 CFR 1910.38 for general industry mandates that employers must establish an emergency action plan “where required by the standard,” and that designated persons must be trained to assist in safe evacuation.

• OSHA’s standard 29 CFR 1926.35 (for construction) likewise requires the employer to designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in emergency evacuations before implementing the plan.

• OSHA’s eTool guidance clarifies that “well-developed emergency plans and proper employee training … will result in fewer and less severe worker injuries and less structural damage.”

• While OSHA’s standard does not require every single employee to receive minute-by-minute training on every detail, the standard does require that employees covered by the plan be reviewed on how it applies to them, and that those with specific responsibilities be trained.

• Many other regulations or accreditation schemes, such as CMS’s Emergency Preparedness Rule (for healthcare organizations), require all workforce members to receive training on emergency procedures upon hiring and at least annually.

So, from a compliance standpoint, the employer must ensure that:

1. The EAP exists (written, accessible, communicated).

2. Individuals with roles must be trained appropriately.

3. Employees whose job duties change or who are newly assigned must receive training.

4. The EAP is periodically reviewed or retrained as needed.

But compliance is only the floor—true readiness demands deeper engagement.

Practical and safety rationale

• In emergencies, stress is high. If people do not know their roles, confusion compounds.

• Training ensures that people know what to do, when, and how—which reduces panic and decision paralysis.

• Drills, exercises, and training also serve as “stress tests” of the plan itself; gaps or unrealistic assumptions often emerge only in a live run.

• Well-trained staff can mitigate damage (e.g., controlling shutdowns, activating backup systems, executing safe evacuation routes).

• From a reputational and legal standpoint, in a litigation scenario, having documented training and records can be a critical defense.

Read Also: What Is Emergency Response and How It Works

Thus, the question “Who should be trained on the contents of an emergency action plan?” is not rhetorical—it must be answered deliberately and thoroughly.

Who Should be Trained, and to what Level?

Below is a breakdown by group, with nuance on depth and frequency of training.

Below, we’ll unpack more fully what training for each group might include and how to prioritize.

All employees: Baseline Readiness

Every person working at or visiting the facility should know:

• What constitutes an emergency (fire, chemical spill, active shooter, natural hazard, etc.).

• How to interpret the alert/alarm signals (audible, visual, text) and when to evacuate or shelter.

• Primary and secondary evacuation routes, stairwells, exits, and assembly points.

• How to initiate a call or alert (e.g., pull alarm, call 911, internal notification).

• What behavior is expected (leave belongings, close the door behind, assist coworkers as needed).

• What not to do (e.g., using elevators, reentering the building prematurely).

• Special instructions for people with disabilities or mobility limitations.

Even though OSHA does not require that every employee be trained in every nuance, awareness-level training ensures that they don’t inadvertently endanger themselves or others.

Supervisors and leads: Amplified Responsibility

Supervisors must not only know their route but also:

• Lead their teams in a calm, orderly fashion during an emergency.

• Help verify that their department is clear.

• Relay situational information upward or to EAP leaders.

• Pause operations when safe to ensure no stragglers or vulnerabilities.

• Understand escalations (e.g., when to shift from evacuation to sheltering).

• In some cases, act as backup communicators or liaisons with emergency leadership.

Because they manage people, their role training gets deeper emphasis on command, communications, and situational judgment.

Emergency Response Team / EAP Core Members

These are the personnel who are expected to execute the EAP in real time. Their training must be comprehensive. Elements include:

• Mastery of the full written EAP, checklists, and flow charts.

• Scenario-based drills (fire, chemical, active shooter, natural disaster).

• Simulation or tabletop exercises with decision points.

• Coordination with external responders (fire, EMS, police).

• Use of specialized equipment (e.g., emergency communications gear, public address systems, respirators, gas monitors).

• Search & rescue protocols, re-entry procedures, and headcount protocols.

• Post-incident debriefing protocols, feedback loops, and plan revision.

Because they will be under pressure during crises, high-frequency rehearsal is essential—quarterly or more frequently in high-risk environments.

Technical staff (Maintenance, Utility, Facility teams)

In many emergencies, damage to systems (electrical, HVAC, gas, plumbing) can escalate risk. These staff must be trained in:

• Safe shutdown methods for hazardous systems or utilities.

• Recognizing conditions (overpressure, gas leakage, electrical faults).

• Procedures for securing areas or isolating systems.

• Use of lockout/tagout under emergency conditions.

• Ensuring egress paths are safe (e.g., removing barriers).

• Coordination with EAP teams about status reports during emergencies.

These steps often require hands-on training and drills under controlled simulation.

Medical/first-aid / Safety officers

These individuals often have licensing or certification (e.g., EMT, CPR, first aid). Their training should integrate:

• Triage protocols under mass casualty or multiple-casualty scenarios.

• Coordination with local EMS; staging patients for evacuation.

• Handling of hazardous exposure or contamination injury.

• Communication of medical status into the EAP command chain.

• Keeping accurate logs and documentation for post-event review.

Their preparedness is essential to reduce injury severity and manage internal medical crises until external help arrives.

Security/Building Marshals/Fire Wardens

These roles are often lateral to facility or security staff. Their training includes:

• Crowd flow, door control (not letting reentry prematurely), stairwell control.

• Monitoring egress chokepoints and redirecting traffic when needed.

• Liaising with the EAP team about movement, opening or closing doors.

• Ensuring that escape paths remain unobstructed even under pressure.

• Ensuring re-entry only when safe and authorized.

These personnel are often critical in ensuring smooth, non-panic evacuations.

Senior Leadership/Crisis management team

While leadership may not lead employees out of buildings, they must:

• Be familiar with triggers to activate or escalate the EAP.

• Know their decision authorities (evacuate, shelter, halt operations).

• Communicate with stakeholders (staff, public, regulators) in real time.

• Authorize resource redeployment, backup power, and backup communications.

• Review and revise the plan after drills or incidents.

• Participate in tabletop or strategic scenario exercises, as their decisions influence outcomes.

Leadership often benefits from scenario exercises, even mock disasters, so they understand the capabilities and constraints at the ground level.

Contractors, Temporary Workers, Visitors, Vendors

These individuals typically lack deep familiarity with the site. For them:

• A brief orientation or induction should cover emergency procedures, primary and secondary exits, and assembly points.

• Issued in writing or via signage, and verbally emphasized at arrival or check-in.

• They don’t need full training, but must not become liabilities in emergencies.

Many workplace incidents arise when contractors or visitors are unaware of escape routes or blocked egress paths.

External Responders (Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement)

It is a best practice to provide local agencies with:

• Updated facility floor plans, maps, hazard zones, and chemical inventories.

• Familiarization walk-throughs and pre-incident planning sessions.

• Communication protocol alignment (which radio channels, who is in contact).

• Points of entry, staging areas, rescue access, and fire control zones.

• Joint drills or exercises with your EAP team, so both sides understand expectations.

This cooperation reduces surprises and improves the speed and safety of external interventions.

Real-Life Case Studies and Lessons

1. Hamlet, North Carolina—Industrial Fire, 1991

One of the most tragic industrial fire disasters in U.S. history occurred in Hamlet, NC, where a chicken processing plant caught fire. The plant had locked or obstructed exits, blocked escape routes, and employees unfamiliar with egress options. Within minutes, smoke and flames overtook much of the facility, and 25 people died.

Key lessons relevant to training:

• Workers lacked proper knowledge of alternative exits or escape procedures under stress.

• Emergency planning, proper drills, exit maintenance, and training could have saved lives.

• If employees had been well-trained in the emergency action plan — including what to do when primary routes were blocked — more survivors could have escaped.

This case reinforces that training must be realistic, frequent, and inclusive of worst-case alternate escape paths.

2. Mid-size Manufacturing Plant — Small Fire Escalation (Hypothetical Composite)

At a manufacturing facility, a small electrical fire started in a control panel. The plan called for immediate evacuation unless operators with fire extinguisher training could safely suppress. The plant’s maintenance technician, one of the few trained in electrical shutdown and extinguisher use, acted quickly, isolated power, used a CO₂ extinguisher, and prevented spread.

Because the EAP team had drilled this scenario quarterly, the technician acted swiftly, and the evacuation of other staff proceeded smoothly. The incident resulted in no injuries and minimal damage.

Insights:

• Focused training of technical / EAP team members allowed confident, timely intervention.

• Other employees evacuated without panic because they knew where to go.

• The drill exposed a minor assumption flaw in the plan (a narrow corridor became congested during evacuation), which was corrected afterward.

3. Healthcare Facility — CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule in Action

A hospital in the U.S. had integrated its EAP training with its CMS-mandated emergency preparedness training. Upon admitting new staff, every new employee — clinical, administrative, support, housekeeping — got emergency procedures training. They practiced monthly fire drills, annual mass casualty drills, and full-scale code scenarios involving police, fire, and EMS.

When a tornado touched down nearby, the hospital successfully initiated reverse evacuation for vulnerable patients, sealed non-essential wings, and moved critical patients to internal safe zones. Coordination with external first responders was seamless because of prior joint drills.

Read Also: What is an Emergency Action Plan

Because everyone was trained to some level, confusion was minimal, and patient outcomes were protected. This is a prime example of a “commercial + informational” compliance integration in action.

How to Design an Effective Training Program: Best Practices and Tips

1. Use a tiered approach

Not everyone needs the same depth of training. Design layered curricula:

• Awareness level (all staff)

• Role-specific level (leaders, technical staff, EAP team)

• Scenario-based / drill level (EAP core)

2. Use mixed delivery modes

• Classroom / online modules

• Hands-on drills and walk-throughs

• Tabletop/scenario workshops

• Full-scale evacuation or simulation exercises

• Virtual Reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) simulations (emerging use cases)

In fact, VR safety training in industrial contexts has shown promise in boosting retention and situational readiness.

3. Conduct unannounced drills

Especially for core team and facility personnel, drop drills (unannounced) help test real readiness, reveal false assumptions, and reduce complacency.

4. After-action review and continuous improvement

Every drill or real incident must conclude with a debrief:

• What went right?

• What gaps or frictions emerged?

• Did communication break down?

• Was anyone slow, hesitant, or misinformed?

• Modify the plan, retrain where needed, and document lessons.

5. Maintain training records and metrics

Document who was trained, when, the content covered, assessments or quizzes, and drill performance. These records support continuous improvement and legal defensibility.

6. Account for turnover and changes

• New employees receive training on day one (or before access).

• Role changes should trigger refresher training.

• Plan updates must be accompanied by training on the updates.

• Retraining should be periodic (e.g., annually) or more frequent in high-risk settings. OSHA encourages refresher training whenever the plan changes, responsibilities shift, or new hazards emerge.

7. Leverage local responders

Invite fire, EMS, or law enforcement to your facility for walkthroughs. Joint drills instill confidence and mutual familiarity.

8. Tailor to site-specific hazards

If your site handles chemicals, flammable materials, biohazards, etc., integrate those unique hazards into training. Don’t treat the EAP as a generic “template” — tailor it to real risks.

9. Use real-world stories, Scenario scripts, and “Stress injects”

In drills, throw curveballs (blocked exit, power failure, injured person, communications failure) to test adaptability.

10. Gauge retention and measure performance

Use quizzes, post-drill knowledge checks, and spot assessments to evaluate training effectiveness.

People Also Ask

Q: Must all employees receive full emergency action plan training?

A: No. OSHA requires that designated persons (e.g., evacuation leaders) be trained to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation; other employees must be informed of their role under the plan. However, from a best practice standpoint (and for more stringent regulatory schemes like CMS), many organizations train all employees to at least awareness and basic evacuation roles.

Q: How often must emergency action plan training occur?

A: At minimum: upon hire (or reassignment), whenever responsibilities change, or the plan is updated. Many organizations also schedule annual refreshers or more frequent (semi-annual/quarterly) training for high-risk roles.

Q: Can training be conducted online / virtually?

A: Yes, awareness modules and basic instruction can be online, but hands-on drills, simulations, and evacuations should include physical or immersive components to build muscle memory and stress test routes.

Q: What if my facility is small (fewer than 10 employees)?

A: OSHA allows that for small workplaces (≤10 employees), the EAP may be communicated orally rather than in writing. But even in small settings, training all employees and running drills is wise.

Q: Who trains the trainers?

A: Your EAP core team or safety department may be certified or contracted to train others. External consultants, safety professionals, or local fire agencies often can deliver “train-the-trainer” sessions.

Read Also: How to Improve Emergency Communications: 6 Useful Tips

Q: What about high-hazard workplaces (chemical, labs, refineries)?

A: In those settings, training depth is greater. You may integrate HAZWOPER (for hazardous response) training, breathing apparatus, confined space procedures, chemical spill protocols, etc.

Unique Insights and Strategic Considerations

To go a step beyond what many articles cover, here are some less-discussed, high-impact considerations:

1. Cognitive load and stress inoculation: Under stress, human decision-making capacity falls. Training should include stress elements (noise, confusion, surprise) so people can build resilience and pattern recognition under duress. Simulated “stress injects” during drills can help.

2. Cross-training and redundancy: Don’t rely on only one person to know a critical role. Train backups to cover core roles in case someone is unavailable or incapacitated.

3. Interoperability across sites / multi-location consistency: If you have multiple locations, ensuring consistent training and shared templates reduces confusion and allows mutual aid (staff swapping) if one site is impacted.

4. Cultural reinforcement and embed training into daily habits: Consider micro-training, “emergency minute” reminders, exit signage drills, or short refreshers to keep awareness high.

5. Use of emerging tech (VR / AR) for immersive practice: VR/AR training modules allow safe exposure to rare but high-stakes scenarios (fire spread, chemical leaks) that are impractical to rehearse by live drill. Early studies show beneficial retention.

6. Real-time feedback loops and predictive analytics: Use sensor data (exit usage, occupancy, alert logs) to identify chokepoints or training weak spots. Use drill performance to predict where failures might occur.

7. Scenario “red teaming”: Occasionally, challenge your own EAP with a “red team” (internal auditors mimicking sabotage or blocked routes) to stress-test assumptions and blind spots.

Summary and Call to Action

When asking “Who should be trained on the contents of an emergency action plan?”, the best practice answer is: everyone to some level, but with graduated intensity. All employees get awareness; supervisors, security, and technical staff get intermediate role-specific training; and the EAP core team gets full, deep rehearsal in scenario-driven drills. Additionally, leadership, contractors, and local responders should have tailored training or familiarization.

By training the right people to the right depth—with repetition, real-world drills, continuous improvement, and inclusion of outsiders/visitors—you significantly increase your organization’s resilience. Regulatory compliance is the baseline; readiness and life safety are the goal.