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  1. Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management
  2. Emergency Preparedness and Response

Emergency Preparedness and Response

Emergencies can create a variety of hazards for workers in the impacted area. Preparing before an emergency incident plays a vital role in ensuring that employers and workers have the necessary equipment, know where to go, and know how to keep themselves safe when an emergency occurs. These Emergency Preparedness and Response pages provide information on how to prepare and train for emergencies and the hazards to be aware of when an emergency occurs. The pages provide information for employers and workers across industries, and for workers who will be responding to the emergency.

 

 

Getting Started

General Preparedness and Response

  • Getting Started:
    • General Business Preparedness for General, Construction and Maritime Industries
    • Evacuation & Shelter-in-Place
    • OSHA's Role in Emergency Response
    • PPE for Emergency Response and Recovery Workers
  • OSHA Emergency Response Rulemaking
  • Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER)
  • Psychological Resiliency
  • ARC Ready Rating Program
  • ARC Emergency AppAmerican Red Cross - Emergency App Icon
    • Apple App Store
    • Google Play Store
American Red Cross - Emergency App Icon

 

Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters and Weather

  • Earthquakes
  • Floods
  • Heat
    • Tips for People Who Take Medication: Coping with Hot Weather NEW
    • Heat.gov NEW
    • Occupational Heat Exposure
    • Heat Illness Campaign
  • Hurricanes
  • Lightning Safety
  • Tornadoes
  • Wildfires
  • Winter Weather
OSHA is a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador committed to working with NOAA and other Ambassadors to strengthen national preparedness for and resilience against extreme weather
National Weather Service
National Integrated Heat Health Information System - logo
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Hurricane Harvey - Photo Credit: DHS/FEMA

Hurricane Response

OSHA is prepared to protect response and recover workers in areas impacted by hurricanes. These areas include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and states along the Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf Coast. OSHA staff in any affected Region will work in support of the federal response to protect response and recovery workers from a variety of safety and health hazards associated with hurricane and flood cleanup and recovery.

 

Hurricane Page

Flood Preparedness and Response Floods : iStock-176877264

Floods

Floods can be serious catastrophes, and they are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Floods can be caused by a variety of factors, including a sudden accumulation of rain, rising rivers, tidal surges, ice jams and dam failures. Workers who have to respond to flooded areas face the greatest risks from floods, but all workers can help protect themselves by preparing evacuation plans and learning about the hazards commonly associated with floods.

 

Flood Preparedness and Response

OSHA's Wildfire Page : iStock-1195174769

OSHA's Wildfire Page

OSHA's Wildfire page provides information on evacuation plans, safety zones around buildings, and equipment to have on hand in case a wildfire occurs. Preparing plans in advance can help workers get to safety before a wildfire impacts an area and can also help protect personal property. It also details hazards that may be present in areas affected by wildfires. These include safety hazards, such as unstable structures; heavy equipment and slips, trips, and falls, as well as health hazards such as heat stress, hazardous materials, carbon monoxide and other respiratory hazards.

 

Wildfire Page

OSHA's Heat Injury Campaign

OSHA's Heat Injury Campaign

Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill while working in extreme heat or humid conditions. There are a range of heat illnesses and they can affect anyone, regardless of age or physical condition.

 

Heat Injury Campaign

Oil Spills : iStock-104684406

Oil Spills

Oil spill cleanup workers can face potential hazards from oil byproducts, dispersants, detergents and degreasers. Drowning, heat illness and falls also pose hazards, as can encounters with insects, snakes and other wild species native to the impacted areas. In these situations, OSHA goals include ensuring that workers receive appropriate training and protective equipment.

 

Oil Spills

‹ ›
  • COVID-19
  • Hurricane Response
  • Spring Safety - NOAA
  • OSHA's Wildfire Page
  • OSHA's Heat Injury Campaign

 

Oil; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Incidents

Oil; Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Incidents

  • Biological Incidents
  • Bomb/Explosion
  • Chemical Incidents
    • Fourth Generation Agent (FGA) Nerve Agent Resources for First Responders and First Receivers
    • GF (Cyclosarin)
    • Plague (Yersinia Pestis)
    • Sarin (GB) Quick Reference Guide
    • Soman (GD) Quick Reference Guide
    • Sulfur Mustard (HD) Quick Reference Guide
    • Tabun (GA) Quick Reference Guide
    • VX Quick Reference Guide
  • Oil Spills NEW
  • Radiation Emergencies

 

Disease Agents and Toxins

Disease Agents and Toxins

  • Anthrax
  • Arboviruses
    • Zika
  • Avian Influenza
  • Botulism
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Hantavirus
  • Legionnaire’s Disease (Legionella)
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
  • Pandemic Influenza
  • Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
    • Ebola

 

Resources and Guides

Resources and Guides

  • eTools
  • Safety and Health Topics
  • FEMA EMI Independent Study Course #1190- National Response System/National Contingency Plan (NRG/NCP) NEW
  • Emergency Preparedness Guides
  • Guidance Documents
  • QuickCards™
  • Fact Sheets
  • Pamphlets/Brochures
  • Worker Safety and Health Resources for Hurricane and Flood Cleanup and Recovery
Department of Labor logo
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety & Health Administration

200 Constitution Ave NW

Washington, DC 20210

800-321-6742 (OSHA)

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www.OSHA.gov

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