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.

General Preparedness and Response

Natural Disasters and Weather

Earthquakes
Floods
Heat
- Occupational Heat Exposure
- Heat Illness Campaign
Hurricanes
Lightning Safety
Tornadoes
Wildfires
Winter Weather

COVID-19

A new coronavirus—similar but not identical to the viruses that cause Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome—has emerged from China, and is causing human cases of pneumonia-like illnesses in several countries. Without sustained human-to-human transmission, most American workers are not at significant risk of infection. However, workers involved in airline operations (including cabin crewmembers), healthcare (including clinical laboratory personnel), and border protection may have exposure to travelers infected with the virus in China or other affected areas. OSHA's COVID-19 webpage provides information for workers and employers about the evolving outbreak and ways to protect workers on the job.

COVID-19 Page

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

Spring Safety - NOAA

Severe weather in the United States causes numerous deaths and injuries and billions of dollars of damage. In a typical year, more than 1,200 tornadoes occur throughout the United States and nearly 12,000 reports of wind and hail are received from local law enforcement and the public. National Weather Service forecasters are the first line of defense in predicting severe weather.

Spring Safety - NOAA

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

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

Catastrophic Event for Kentucky- December 2021 Tornadoes

Kentucky was the hardest hit among the affected states. The Commonwealth suffered eighty (80) deaths and over 11,700 damaged structures with an estimated reconstruction cost of nearly $3 billion (to date). The Kentucky Labor Cabinet's Division of Occupational Safety and Health Education and Training, also known as KYSAFE, was able to provide resources to assist with tornado response, such as, assessing the needs of each area affected by the tornadoes, prevented additional injuries, illnesses and fatalities during clean-up and rebuilding, provided educational materials and training on how to work safely during clean-up and rebuilding, and provided donated personal protective equipment. As clean-up phases out and reconstruction ramps up, KYSAFE is committed to maintaining a long-term presence to assist employers and employees in providing a safe workplace.

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