Fire Safety Emergency Action Plans and Incident Command

Question 1

Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38, which of the following is a REQUIRED element of a written Emergency Action Plan?

Accepted Answer

Procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency

Answer

OSHA 1910.38 specifies required EAP elements including: procedures for reporting emergencies, procedures for emergency evacuation (including evacuation routes and exit assignments), procedures for employees who perform critical plant operations before evacuating, procedures to account for all employees after evacuation, procedures for rescue or medical duties, and names/job titles of persons to contact for plan information. The fire marshal's contact and sprinkler maps may be good practice but are not OSHA-required EAP elements.

Question 2

In the Incident Command System (ICS), who holds ultimate responsibility for all incident management activities?

Accepted Answer

The Incident Commander

Answer

The Incident Commander (IC) is the individual responsible for all incident management activities, including the development of strategies and tactics, the ordering and release of resources, and the overall safety of responders and others at the incident. The Safety Officer monitors conditions and advises the IC on safety matters but has no command authority. Section Chiefs (Operations, Logistics, Planning, Finance) manage their respective sections under the IC.

Question 3

What is the purpose of an employee accountability system as part of an Emergency Action Plan?

Accepted Answer

To confirm all employees have evacuated and identify anyone unaccounted for after a fire alarm

Answer

An accountability system — typically a headcount at a pre-designated assembly point — ensures that all employees, contractors, and visitors are accounted for after an evacuation. This is critical because it allows emergency responders to know whether anyone may be trapped or unaccounted for inside the building, which directly affects search-and-rescue operations. OSHA 1910.38(c)(4) requires EAPs to include procedures to account for all employees after evacuation.

Question 4

An Emergency Action Plan is REQUIRED by OSHA in written form when a workplace has more than how many employees?

Accepted Answer

10 employees

Answer

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38(b) requires Emergency Action Plans to be in writing and kept in the workplace when there are more than 10 employees. For workplaces with 10 or fewer employees, the plan may be communicated orally. However, even when oral communication is permitted, a written EAP is considered best practice and is strongly recommended regardless of workforce size.

Question 5

Which ICS principle ensures that no supervisor is responsible for more than a manageable number of subordinates during an emergency?

Accepted Answer

Span of control

Answer

Span of control refers to the number of individuals or resources one supervisor can effectively manage. ICS guidelines recommend a span of control between 3 and 7, with 5 being optimal. When a supervisor's span of control is exceeded, the organizational structure expands by creating additional supervisory positions (e.g., expanding from single crews to groups, divisions, or branches). This prevents overload and maintains effective coordination.

Fire Safety Practice Test

Fire Safety Practice Test

Fire Safety Emergency Action Plans and Incident Command