An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is a written document that outlines the specific steps employees, staff, and leadership should take during a workplace emergency — such as a fire, tornado, active shooter, earthquake, or chemical spill. A well-developed EAP reduces confusion, minimizes injuries, and protects both people and property when disaster strikes.

Yes. OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.38 requires that most workplaces have an Emergency Action Plan in place. If your organization has more than 10 employees, the plan must be in writing and made available to staff. The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations also reinforces this requirement for businesses operating in Missouri. Failing to have a compliant EAP can expose your organization to significant fines and legal liability. 

A comprehensive EAP should include: 

• Evacuation routes and emergency exit maps 

• Procedures for fire, tornado, earthquake, active shooter, and other relevant emergencies 

• Employee accountability and headcount procedures 

• Emergency contact information and chain of command 

• Roles and responsibilities for designated Emergency Coordinators 

• Shelter-in-place protocols 

• Procedures for employees with disabilities 

Formation Industries builds customized EAPs that cover all these elements and more, tailored specifically to your facility and location. 

Our process starts with a free consultation to understand your organization's needs, goals, and budget. From there, we conduct an in-person site walkthrough and assessment, then develop your customized EAP documents. Depending on your service package, we also install evacuation posters, conduct staff briefings, run drills, and provide tabletop exercises for leadership.

We develop Emergency Action Plans for: 

• Fire 

• Tornado 

• Earthquake 

• Active Shooter / Workplace Violence 

• Accountability / Evacuation 

• Hurricane 

• Flash Flood 

• Wildfire 

• And other site-specific hazards 

Absolutely. Any organization with staff, volunteers, or members of the public on-site should have a formal EAP. This includes churches, schools, community organizations, and nonprofits. Formation Industries has worked with faith-based organizations and community groups to develop EAPs that fit their unique environments and budgets. 

Your EAP should be reviewed and updated annually, whenever there is a change in staff roles, building layout, new equipment or hazards, or after any emergency drill or real incident. OSHA also recommends regular reviews to keep contact information and procedures current. Formation Industries can help you schedule and manage ongoing plan maintenance. 

All three packages include a site walkthrough, site assessment, and core Emergency Action Plans (Fire, Tornado, Earthquake, Active Shooter, and Accountability). As you move up: 

• Guardian Enhanced adds evacuation posters and installation, FEMA regulation site assessments, EAP drills, and social media templates. 

• Guardian Exclusive adds tabletop exercises with leadership, OSHA standards review, additional hazard-specific EAPs, and full-site drills. 

Contact us for a free consultation and we'll help you determine which package is right for your organization. 

Yes. Formation Industries offers OSHA Emergency Action Plan standards review as part of our Guardian Exclusive package, and our site assessments evaluate your facility against both OSHA and FEMA regulations. We guide you through what is required and help you implement it. 

Without a compliant EAP, your organization risks OSHA fines, increased liability in the event of an injury or fatality, and devastating losses if a disaster occurs. Research from FEMA shows that up to 40% of businesses affected by a natural or man-made disaster never reopen. An EAP is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your people and your organization's future. 

A comprehensive Emergency Action Plan (EAP) should include evacuation routes and emergency exit maps, procedures for specific emergencies such as fire, tornado, earthquake, and active shooter situations, an employee accountability and headcount system, designated Emergency Coordinators and their contact information, shelter-in-place protocols, rescue and medical duty assignments, and procedures for employees with disabilities or special needs. The plan should also outline how employees will be notified of an emergency — whether through alarms, intercoms, or direct communication — and define the chain of command so there is no confusion about who is in charge. Formation Industries builds every one of these elements into each customized EAP we develop for your organization. 

OSHA's Emergency Action Plan standard, 29 CFR 1910.38, requires the following elements in every compliant EAP: procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency, evacuation procedures and emergency escape route assignments, procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating, a system for accounting for all employees after an evacuation, rescue and medical duties for assigned employees, and the names or job titles of people employees can contact for more information about the plan. For organizations with more than 10 employees, this plan must be in writing and kept accessible to all staff. Formation Industries ensures your EAP meets every OSHA requirement and keeps your organization protected from fines and legal liability. 

The purpose of an Emergency Action Plan is to protect the lives of employees, staff, visitors, and anyone on your property during a workplace emergency. A well-developed EAP eliminates confusion, reduces the risk of injury, minimizes property damage, and ensures that everyone knows exactly what to do — and who is in charge — the moment a crisis occurs. Beyond protecting people, an EAP also protects your organization legally and financially. FEMA data shows that up to 40% of businesses impacted by a disaster never reopen. A strong Emergency Action Plan is one of the most powerful steps an organization can take to ensure it survives and recovers from the unexpected.

An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and a Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) are two separate OSHA-required documents that serve different purposes. An Emergency Action Plan outlines how employees should respond during an emergency — covering evacuation routes, alarm systems, accountability procedures, and assigned roles across multiple types of emergencies including fire, tornado, active shooter, and more. A Fire Prevention Plan, governed by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.39, focuses specifically on preventing fires before they start. It must identify major fire hazards in the workplace, outline proper handling and storage of flammable materials, identify the equipment used to control fire hazards, and name the employees responsible for fire prevention maintenance. In short, the EAP tells your people what to do when an emergency happens — the FPP works to make sure a fire never happens in the first place. Formation Industries helps organizations develop both documents as part of a complete workplace safety strategy. 

The key elements of an Emergency Action Plan include: 

• Emergency reporting procedures — how and who to call when an emergency occurs 

• Evacuation routes and exit maps — clearly marked pathways to safety for every area of the building 

• Employee roles and responsibilities — designating Emergency Coordinators, Floor Captains, and aids for those with disabilities 

• Alarm and notification systems — how employees will be alerted, whether by fire alarm, PA system, or other means 

• Shelter-in-place protocols — procedures for emergencies where evacuation is not the safest option, such as tornadoes or chemical spills 

• Accountability procedures — how all employees will be accounted for after an evacuation 

• Critical operations shutdown procedures — steps for employees who must secure equipment before evacuating 

• Rescue and medical response duties — assigned roles for first aid and emergency response 

• Emergency contact information — a current list of coordinators, local emergency services, and key personnel 

Formation Industries incorporates all of these key elements into every Emergency Action Plan we create, customized to your specific facility, location, and hazards. 

OSHA requires Emergency Action Plans under standard 29 CFR 1910.38 for most workplaces. Key requirements include: the plan must be in writing for any organization with more than 10 employees; it must be kept in the workplace and made available to employees for review; it must include procedures for reporting emergencies, evacuation routes and assignments, employee accountability after evacuation, critical operations shutdown procedures, rescue and medical duties, and designated contact persons; and employers must review the EAP with each employee when the plan is first developed, when the employee is initially assigned, when the employee's responsibilities change, and when the plan itself is updated. Failure to comply with OSHA's EAP requirements can result in significant fines and, more importantly, preventable loss of life. Formation Industries helps organizations across Missouri achieve and maintain full OSHA compliance.

An emergency evacuation plan must include clearly defined evacuation routes for every area of the facility, designated emergency exits that are clearly marked and unobstructed, assembly areas where employees gather after evacuating, a headcount or accountability system to confirm all personnel are safely out of the building, assigned employees responsible for sweeping each area and directing others to safety, procedures for assisting employees with disabilities or mobility limitations, and protocols for employees who must perform shutdown procedures before evacuating. Evacuation maps should be posted throughout the building in visible locations and updated whenever the facility layout changes. Formation Industries provides evacuation poster design and physical installation as part of our Guardian Enhanced and Guardian Exclusive service packages. 

29 CFR 1910.38 is OSHA's Emergency Action Plans standard, and it specifies the following required components for a compliant EAP: 

• Minimum elements — procedures for reporting emergencies, evacuation procedures and escape route assignments, procedures for employees who remain to operate critical plant operations, a procedure to account for all employees after emergency evacuation, rescue and medical duties for designated employees, and the name or job title of every employee who may be contacted regarding the EAP 

• Alarm system — the EAP must include an employee alarm system that complies with 29 CFR 1910.165, capable of alerting all employees to evacuate or take appropriate action 

• Training — employers must train a sufficient number of employees to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of other employees 

• Review of the plan — employers must review the EAP with each employee when the plan is developed or the employee is first hired, when the employee's responsibilities under the plan change, and whenever the plan is updated 

• Written plan requirement — the plan must be in writing for workplaces with more than 10 employees and kept accessible at the workplace at all times 

Formation Industries specializes in building fully 29 CFR 1910.38-compliant Emergency Action Plans and conducts OSHA standards reviews as part of our Guardian Exclusive package. Contact us at formationindustries.net for a free consultation. 

Yes! Formation Industries provides CPR training as a standalone service. Equipping your staff with CPR skills is a critical part of a complete emergency preparedness strategy — because seconds matter when someone's heart stops.

Anyone can benefit from CPR certification, but it's especially important for employees, teachers, church staff, coaches, and anyone who regularly works with the public or in large gatherings. Many OSHA and workplace safety standards also encourage or require CPR-trained personnel on-site. 

Formation 360 is Formation Industries' comprehensive emergency preparedness solution that goes beyond a standard EAP. It is designed to take an organization through a full 360-degree readiness cycle — combining planning, training, drills, and ongoing support to ensure your team is truly prepared, not just compliant.

Formation Industries is based in the Branson, Missouri area and serves organizations throughout the region. Contact us to discuss your location and needs — we're committed to helping communities across the area become more resilient. 

It's simple — contact us for a free initial consultation. We'll discuss your organization's specific needs, risks, and goals, then recommend the right service package for you. Visit formationindustries.net/contact to get started today. 

Formation Industries was founded on the mission of forming resilient guardians — empowering the people inside your organization to respond effectively rather than waiting passively for outside help. We don't just hand you a document; we walk alongside you through every step of the process, from site assessment to drills to ongoing updates. Our faith-driven mission means we are genuinely invested in the safety and resilience of your people and your community.