An emergency action plan doesn't need to be complicated to be effective — it needs to answer a small number of questions clearly enough that someone can follow it under stress, without having read it in the last six months.
What a basic plan generally covers
- Evacuation routes and exits. Marked, unobstructed, and known to everyone on site — not just the person who wrote the plan.
- A designated assembly point. Somewhere clear of the building where a headcount can happen safely.
- Who does the headcount. One person clearly responsible for confirming everyone made it out, with a backup if that person isn't on site.
- How to report an emergency. Who to call, and how, for fire, medical, or other emergencies.
- Procedures for anyone who stays behind briefly. Equipment shutdown steps, if applicable, for the few roles where a brief delay before evacuating is expected.
Why a plan matters even for a five-person office
The value of a written plan isn't really about the paperwork — it's that everyone has already thought through the answer before they need it. Fire drills feel unnecessary right up until the day they aren't.
Next step
Download the free OSHA Workplace Safety Checklist, which includes a simple emergency plan template you can fill in for your specific site in under twenty minutes.