What Every Employee and Employer Should Know
What is an Emergency Action Plan?
Emergency Action Plans, or EAPs, are the plans every office must have in place to deal with emergency situations. All employing offices in Congress, including every committee and every personal office of a Member, are required by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to have an EAP. EAPs must be updated regularly, and every employee should be familiar with their contents.
It should be kept in mind that for Committees and the offices of Members of Congress, your EAP only needs to deal with emergency procedures within your own office. Capitol campus-wide issues – like when to put on your escape hoods or when to evacuate – are the responsibility of the Capitol Police and House and Senate authorities. Your EAP needs to explain what happens inside the walls of your office: how to get out of the office during an emergency; where office escape hoods are located; and where supplies are stored for sheltering in place.
EAPs vary in complexity according to the size and needs of the individual office, but all share at a minimum a few common elements:
- Escape procedures and escape route assignments for staff
- Procedures for staff who must perform critical operations before evacuation (if applicable)
- Assembly areas for staff once outside of the building
- Procedures to account for all staff after an evacuation
- Means for reporting emergencies
- Assignment of rescue and medical duties
- Persons to contact for more information
An EAP should also designate which employee(s) is responsible for coordinating emergency response activities and planning.
What Should Every Employee Know About EAPs?
As an individual, the first thing you should do to prepare for an emergency is to maintain a basic knowledge of your office’s emergency action plan. Read your office’s EAP and find out who your office emergency coordinator is. If your office does not have one, consider volunteering.
