--- title: "OSHA: Earthquake Preparedness" description: Last weekend’s disastrous earthquakes in Nepal are a reminder that natural disasters can strike anywhere. Employers can and should plan for a broad r image: https://blog.stpub.com/hs-fs/file-3434046367-jpg/images/earthquake1.jpg --- [![Specialty Technical Publishers](https://blog.stpub.com/hubfs/STP-logo-white-orange.png)](http://www.stpub.com/) - [My Account](http://stponline.stpub.com) - 1-800-251-0381 # Audit, Compliance and Risk Blog ## [OSHA: Earthquake Preparedness](https://blog.stpub.com/bid/205280/OSHA-Earthquake-Preparedness) Posted by [Jon Elliott](https://blog.stpub.com/author/jon-elliott) on Tue, May 05, 2015 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![http://www.stpub.com/osha-compliance-a-simplified-national-guide-online](https://blog.stpub.com/hs-fs/file-3434046367-jpg/images/earthquake1.jpg?width=172&height=129&name=earthquake1.jpg)Last weekend’s disastrous earthquakes in Nepal are a reminder that natural disasters can strike anywhere. Employers can and should plan for a broad range of events, and can apply guidance from occupational safety and health agencies standards when doing so. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration ([OSHA](http://www.stpub.com/search.asp?keyword=osha&search=GO)) requires employers with specified activities to prepare and implement **emergency action plans (EAPs)**, provides guidance for EAPs, and recommends that all employers prepare these plans. Employers can use this structure to prepare for earthquakes. ### **Basic EAP Requirements** A variety of OSHA standards require employers to maintain plans and alternatives for dealing with emergency conditions. Even if you are not required to develop an EAP, OSHA recommends that all employers do so. For example, eligibility for OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs requires that a facility be covered by written emergency preparedness and response procedures that address all types of emergencies. An emergency action plan (EAP) is—essentially—an evacuation plan, and should cover the typical contingencies that might require evacuation. Required elements consist of the following: Depending on your location, “other emergencies” can include earthquake, tornado and other weather emergencies, and/or floods. The question for each employer is “Which events might require evacuation?” ### **Focusing on Earthquake Preparedness** [OSHA](http://www.stpub.com/search.asp?keyword=osha&search=GO) provides broad, generalized guidance to assist employers with earthquake preparedness. This guidance includes the following: - **Preparedness** OSHA recommends that employers **perform a workplace survey**, especially if the facility is in an area with a high risk of earthquakes. The survey should seek to identify potential hazards to workers if an earthquake occurs. These can include furniture or materials that could fall and strike workers or block means of egress, release of hazardous materials, or other situations resulting from utility loss or system/structural failure. Note that the Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA) provides recommendations for mitigation techniques to prevent or reduce harm from equipment and furniture. Additional measures include: - **Equipping** Employers should assemble emergency supply kits and keep them in shelter locations. These include: FEMA provides standardized lists of suggested supplies. - **Training and Exercises** Employers should ensure that all workers know what to do in case of an earthquake. These include ongoing efforts to ### **Self-Assessment Checklist** Is the organization required to prepare an EAP for any of its workplaces, by OSHA (or state) standards applicable to its activities at any workplace? Has the organization prepared an EAP voluntarily (or as part of compliance with other requirements, such as Hazardous Waste Contingency Plan)? Does the organization’s EAP (or other plan) include all elements required by OSHA and/or other relevant regulatory agencies? Does the organization’s EAP (or other plan) include earthquake scenario(s)? If so: **Where Can I Go For More Information?** - OSHA resources: - FEMA resources: **Specialty Technical Publishers (STP)** provides a variety of single-law and multi-law services, intended to facilitate clients’ understanding of and compliance with requirements. These include: - *[OSHA Auditing - Federal Compliance Guide: Facilities: The Complete Safety & Health Audit Checklist](http://www.stpub.com/osha-auditing-federal-compliance-guide-facilities-the-complete-safety-and-health-audit-checklist-online)*  - *[OSHA Compliance: A Simplified National Guide](http://www.stpub.com/osha-compliance-a-simplified-national-guide-online)* - *[OSHA State Differences Summaries and Checklists](http://www.stpub.com/osha-state-differences-summaries-and-checklists-online)* - *[Federal Toxics Program Commentary](http://www.stpub.com/federal-toxics-program-commentary-online)* - *[OSHA Auditing - California Occupational Health and Safety Audit Guide](http://www.stpub.com/osha-auditing-california-occupational-health-and-safety-audit-guide-online)* - *[Cal/OSHA: Compliance and Auditing](http://www.stpub.com/cal-osha-compliance-and-auditing-guide-online)* [![Like What You've Read? Subscribe to Our Blog Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/129776/432bf34d-5444-4a84-9636-a15f85c32125.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/129776/432bf34d-5444-4a84-9636-a15f85c32125) **About the Author** [![http://www.stpub.com/environmental-compliance-a-simplified-national-guide-online](https://blog.stpub.com/hs-fs/file-17039548-jpg/images/jon_elliott_w_border.jpg)Jon Elliott](http://en.stpub.com/company/authors/jon-f.-elliott) is President of [Touchstone Environmental](http://en.stpub.com/company/authors/touchstone-environmental) and has been a major contributor to STP’s product range for over 25 years. He was involved in developing [12 existing products](http://en.stpub.com/company/authors/jon-f.-elliott), including [Environmental Compliance: A Simplified National Guide](http://www.stpub.com/environmental-compliance-a-simplified-national-guide-online) and [The Complete Guide to Environmental Law](http://www.stpub.com/the-complete-guide-to-environmental-law). Mr. Elliott has a diverse educational background. In addition to his Juris Doctor (University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1981), he holds a Master of Public Policy (Goldman School of Public Policy [GSPP], UC Berkeley, 1980), and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Princeton University, 1977). Mr. Elliott is active in professional and community organizations. In addition, he is a past chairman of the Board of Directors of the GSPP Alumni Association, and past member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California's Environmental Law Section (including past chair of its Legislative Committee). You may contact Mr. Elliott directly at: [tei@ix.netcom.com](mailto:tei@ix.netcom.com). ###### photo credit: [CIMG0226.JPG](http://www.flickr.com/photos/24382275@N04/5613324087) via [photopin](http://photopin.com) [(license)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) Tags: [Corporate Governance](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/corporate-governance), [Employer Best Practices](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/employer-best-practices), [OSHA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/osha), [Environmental risks](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-risks), [Environmental](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental), [EHS](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/ehs), [EPA](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa) ### Follow Me ### Subscribe by Email ### Browse by Topic Area - [Accounting & Tax ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/accounting-tax) - [Business & Legal ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/business-legal) - [Corporate Governance  ](https://blog.stpub.com/?Tag=Corporate+Governance) - [Environmental ](https://blog.stpub.com/?Tag=Environmental) - [Global ](https://blog.stpub.com/?Tag=Global) - [Health & Safety ](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/health-safety) - [Internet ](https://blog.stpub.com/?Tag=Internet) - [Transportation ](https://blog.stpub.com/?Tag=Transportation) ### Browse by Tag - [Environmental (344)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental) - [Business & Legal (309)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/business-legal) - [Environmental risks (300)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/environmental-risks) - [Health & Safety (296)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/health-safety) - [EPA (283)](https://blog.stpub.com/topic/epa) - [Terms & Conditions](https://stphub.stpehs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/STP-Terms-of-Use-Dec-20.pdf) - [Privacy Policy](https://stphub.stpehs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/STP-Privacy-Policy.pdf) - [License Agreement](https://stphub.stpehs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/STP-License-Agreement-Dec-20.pdf) - [Sitemap](http://stpub.com/sitemap) - [Support](http://stpub.com/support) © 2021 STP ComplianceEHS - All rights reserved