Emergency Action Plan: What OSHA Actually Requires
Updated October 5, 2026
An emergency action plan (EAP) is the written document that tells workers what to do when something goes wrong: how evacuation is announced, which routes to take, who shuts down critical equipment, how everyone is accounted for at the muster point, and who performs rescue and medical duties. 29 CFR 1910.38 and, for construction, 29 CFR 1926.35 set what an emergency action plan must contain whenever another OSHA standard requires one, and many GCs ask for one regardless. Employers with more than 10 employees must have the plan in writing; with 10 or fewer it may be communicated orally.
The required elements
- ✓ Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency
- ✓ Emergency escape procedures and route assignments
- ✓ Procedures for employees who remain to operate critical operations before evacuating
- ✓ Procedures to account for all employees after evacuation (the muster point count)
- ✓ Procedures for employees performing rescue or medical duties
- ✓ The name or job title of every employee who can be contacted for more information about the plan
- ✓ An alarm system employees recognize, and training for every covered employee
What this looks like on a job site
An office EAP does not survive contact with a construction site: the muster point moves with the project, the alarm might be an air horn, and the nearest hospital changes every job. A usable site EAP names the muster point for THIS site, the horn signal, who calls 911 and meets the ambulance at the gate, and who counts heads against the sign-in sheet. That is why site-specific safety plans include a project emergency action section, and your company safety program includes the company-wide procedures.
Get it as part of a complete program
TailgateDocs writes emergency procedures into every document it generates: the Written Safety Program ($149) carries your company-wide emergency action and first aid procedures, and each Site-Specific Safety Plan ($49) carries the project version with muster and reporting directives. Citations are validated against a verified standards table before delivery.
Common questions
▸Do I need a written emergency action plan?
If you have more than 10 employees, yes, it must be in writing and available to employees. With 10 or fewer employees you may communicate it orally, but GCs and prequal reviewers will still ask to see something written.
▸Is a fire prevention plan the same thing?
No. The fire prevention plan (29 CFR 1910.39) covers preventing fires: fuel sources, housekeeping, and maintenance. The EAP covers responding to emergencies. They are usually adjacent chapters in a written safety program.
▸Does every job site need its own EAP?
The company plan sets the procedures, but site-specific details (muster point, hospital route, GC alarm signals) change per project, which is why reviewers want an emergency section in each site-specific safety plan.
Skip the template. Get the finished document.
Citations checked against 140+ OSHA sections, delivery in under 30 minutes, free revision within 24 hours if a reviewer asks for changes.
More on written safety programs
Written Hazard Communication Program for ContractorsSite-Specific Safety Plan vs Written Safety ProgramSilica Exposure Control Plan (OSHA 1926.1153)Free vs Paid Safety Program Templates: The Honest Trade-offsWritten Safety Program ($149)OSHA self-inspection checklist
Keep exploring
State requirements quizFree toolbox talks (EN/ES)Sample documentsRoofing toolbox talksElectrical toolbox talksHVAC / Mechanical toolbox talksGeneral Contractor toolbox talks