1
Report emergencies
Document alarms, internal notifications, emergency numbers, and who contacts responders.
U.S. workplace planning template
Healthcare Emergency Action Plan Template
Last reviewed: June 8, 2026 · Review with a qualified safety professional when required.
Document workplace emergency roles for clinics and healthcare operations while recognizing that patient movement, defend-in-place, life-safety systems, licensing, and accreditation need facility-specific clinical review.
Free account required • Download resumes after sign-in • No credit card
Federal OSHA scope: 29 CFR 1910.38 applies when another covered OSHA standard requires an EAP. Employee count generally determines written versus oral form after that duty exists. Verify state-plan, adopted-code, licensing, permit, insurer, and AHJ requirements separately.
Outpatient clinicsMedical officesAmbulatory facilitiesSupport and administrative healthcare spaces
Part of the EAP template collection
View general templateChoose the path that fits the workplace
A written action plan—not an unrelated map page
The download is organized around the six subjects in 29 CFR 1910.38(c), with additional prompts tailored to healthcare operations.
2
Evacuate or shelter
Record site-verified escape assignments, assembly areas, shelter locations, and assistance needs.
3
Critical operations
Identify trained employees, time limits, abandonment criteria, and alternate escape arrangements.
4
Account for people
Define rosters, assembly reporting, visitors or contractors, and missing-person handoff.
5
Rescue and medical duties
Assign only trained and authorized personnel; prohibit improvised rescue or re-entry.
6
Plan contacts
List the names or job titles employees can contact for more information about the plan.
Healthcare emergencies to assess
These are review prompts, not assumptions. Keep only scenarios supported by the actual site hazard assessment and applicable emergency programs.
Potential scenarios
- Fire or smoke
- Medical-gas or oxygen event
- Infectious-disease incident
- Utility failure
- Severe weather
- Security threat
Plan priorities
- Coordinate employee EAP duties with patient emergency operations
- Distinguish evacuation, relocation, shelter, and defend-in-place decisions
- Protect continuity of critical clinical functions without unsafe delay
- Integrate licensing, accreditation, adopted-code, and emergency-management requirements
Industry-specific procedures included in the template
Each section leaves room for the employer’s actual alarm, routes, people, equipment, contacts, and approval—not generic filler.
Reporting and alarms
- Clinical emergency, facilities, security, and 911 channels
- Code or alarm meanings for employees
- Patient and visitor communication
- Notification of receiving facilities or emergency-management partners when applicable
Evacuation or shelter
- Horizontal relocation, evacuation, or shelter decision authority
- Patient mobility and equipment categories
- Clinical-record and medication priorities only when safe
- Staff and visitor routes separated from responder access when needed
Employee accountability
- Staff assignments and shift census
- Patient census and movement destination
- Visitor or caregiver considerations
- Handoff to incident command and receiving areas
Critical operations
- Which clinical operations cannot stop immediately
- Authority and staffing for continuity or shutdown
- Oxygen, utility, equipment, and medication considerations
- Abandonment and transfer criteria
Rescue and medical duties
- Assigned clinical duties do not authorize structural rescue
- Responder access and patient transfer point
- Emergency equipment and utility information
- Staff exposure, decontamination, or isolation coordination where applicable
Training and review
- Role-specific orientation by shift and unit
- Patient-movement and accessibility practice as required by applicable programs
- Coordination with facility emergency operations plans
- Review after service, unit, occupancy, life-safety, or licensing changes
Assign roles before an emergency
The template includes primary-person, alternate, and contact fields for each role.
Incident or EAP coordinator
Coordinates the workplace response with clinical leadership.
Clinical area lead
Directs patient and staff actions within assigned authority.
Facilities or life-safety liaison
Provides system status and building information to responders.
Patient and staff accountability lead
Reconciles staff, patients, visitors, and movement destinations.
Open the Healthcare EAP template
Choose an editable Word document or a browser-print version you can save as PDF. Both contain the same industry-specific planning sections.
The plan is the primary document
Your EAP records responsibilities and procedures. Complete it with the actual workplace, employees, alarms, operations, and emergency programs.
Need a supporting evacuation map?
A verified map can help communicate routes and assembly areas, but it does not replace the written plan or qualified review.
Draft the supporting EAP map →Healthcare EAP questions
Is this a complete hospital emergency operations plan?
No. It is a workplace EAP drafting aid. Hospitals, long-term care, ambulatory, and other licensed settings may have extensive CMS, accreditation, state, local, and adopted-code requirements that need specialist review.
Should healthcare staff evacuate every patient immediately?
Not necessarily. Relocation, defend-in-place, shelter, and evacuation decisions depend on the facility, hazard, patient needs, life-safety design, and responsible authority. The template provides decision fields rather than prescribing one response.
How does federal OSHA 1910.38 apply?
Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38 applies when another covered OSHA standard requires an Emergency Action Plan. More than 10 employees generally determines written versus oral form after that duty exists; headcount alone does not create the duty. Verify state-plan, adopted-code, licensing, permit, insurer, and AHJ requirements separately.
Can I use this healthcare EAP template immediately?
Use it as a structured starting point, not a finished plan. Complete every field for the actual facility, remove non-applicable prompts, coordinate connected emergency programs, and obtain qualified review before employee use.
Scope of this Healthcare template
This editable template provides general information and an industry-focused starting point, not legal advice. It does not establish whether this workplace must maintain an EAP, replace site-specific hazard or adopted-code analysis, or guarantee completeness, compliance, AHJ approval, inspection results, or any legal outcome. A qualified reviewer should confirm the finished plan against the actual facility, workforce, emergency programs, applicable federal or state-plan rules, and local requirements.
Important Legal Disclaimer
Not OSHA Endorsed:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not approve, endorse, recommend, or certify any commercial products or software. This platform is a compliance assistance tool only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA or any government agency.
Professional Review Required:
All AI-generated evacuation maps, safety plans, and compliance documents must be reviewed, verified, and approved by a qualified safety professional, fire marshal, licensed engineer, or appropriate authority before being posted, distributed, or used for emergency planning purposes.
User Responsibility:
Employers retain full legal responsibility for workplace safety under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act). Users are solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. This software does not guarantee OSHA compliance.
No Professional Advice:
This software does not constitute legal, safety consulting, engineering, or professional advice. Content is for informational purposes only. Users should consult qualified safety professionals and legal counsel for compliance guidance specific to their operations.
Accuracy & Currency:
While we strive for accuracy, workplace safety regulations change frequently. We make no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or current validity of any information. Users must independently verify all regulatory requirements applicable to their specific circumstances.
Limitation of Liability:
To the maximum extent permitted by law, OSHAMap, its owners, operators, affiliates, and licensors shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of this service, including but not limited to workplace injuries, OSHA violations, regulatory fines, property damage, or any other losses.
Pricing & Savings Estimates:
Cost comparisons and savings estimates are based on industry averages for professional safety consultant fees and are provided for informational purposes only. Actual costs, savings, and results may vary significantly based on your specific situation.
By using OSHAMap, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms. For complete terms, see our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
OSHAMap is not endorsed by OSHA. Review this checklist with a qualified safety professional and verify all requirements that apply to your workplace before use.