How to Train for Evacuation Drills

Evacuation training is essential for any organization.

Whether you work in a business, a school, a hospital or any other venue that makes use of building facilities, you will need to be prepared in case of an emergency. Fires and other hazards often require building evacuation; and depending on the building, conducting an evacuation can be a logistical nightmare. You will therefore want to keep employees apprised of building evacuation plans and prepare for a number of possible scenarios.

Things You'll Need

• Written evacuation plans
• Escape route maps
• Schedule of drills

Instructions

1. Draw up a written plan for building evacuation. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires all businesses or organizations that have more than 10 employees have emergency plans in writing and available for general knowledge.

2. Make evacuation plans, procedures and escape routes readily available to employees. Post maps of escape routes clearly on all floors. Review these plans with employees when the plan is first drawn up, whenever anyone's responsibility in the plans change and before scheduled evacuation drills.

3. Consider everyone's needs when planning for emergencies. People who operate well under normal circumstances may be incapacitated by an evacuation requiring intense physical exertion. Those with heart conditions, for example, may not be able to play a major role in helping others escape from a burning building.

4. Train and review post-evacuation procedures with employees. In the emergency action plans, clearly demarcate a gathering area far away from the building. Provide multiple routes to this location in case of construction projects, traffic accidents and other unforeseen obstacles.

5. Conduct regular evacuation drills and fire alarm tests. Encourage employee cooperation in preparing for these drills. For especially large buildings with thousands of employees, conduct partial evacuation drills more frequently, perhaps on a semi-annual or bi-monthly basis. Hold at least one full-building evacuation per year.

Tips & Warnings

• Planning is the most important factor in training for evacuation drills. The more you emphasize preparedness in an emergency, the more employees will be able to respond in a crisis situation. Repetition is also a factor: though employees may tire of hearing you repeat evacuation procedure basics, it will stick with them when the time comes to put their training to use.

• Even well-laid evacuation plans can't guarantee prevention of injury or death. Prepare yourself and employees for worst-case scenarios. Make yourself available in case of loss of loved ones.

References

• Buildings: Evacuation Planning