OSHA requires employers to have an emergency action plan that addresses the actions employees must take to ensure their safety during workplace emergencies. The OSHA standard at 29 CFR 1910.38 establishes the minimum elements that an emergency action plan must contain, including evacuation procedures, escape routes, procedures for employees who remain to operate critical operations before evacuating, procedures to account for all employees after evacuation, rescue and medical duties, and the means of reporting emergencies. Salons that fail to maintain a compliant emergency action plan face OSHA citations, fines, and increased liability when emergencies occur. This guide covers emergency action plan compliance for salon businesses.
Despite the OSHA requirement, many small salon businesses either lack a written emergency action plan or have a plan that is outdated, incomplete, or never communicated to employees. When an emergency occurs, the absence of a plan leads to confusion, delayed evacuation, failure to account for all occupants, and increased risk of injuries.
The OSHA emergency action plan standard applies to all employers covered by OSHA. While the standard allows employers with 10 or fewer employees to communicate the plan orally rather than in writing, a written plan is strongly recommended regardless of employer size because it provides a permanent reference that can be reviewed, updated, and used for training.
Salon emergencies can include fires, chemical spills or exposures, medical emergencies involving clients or staff, severe weather events, active threats, power outages, gas leaks, structural emergencies, and natural disasters. Each type of emergency may require different response actions, and the emergency action plan should address the most likely and most dangerous scenarios for the specific salon location.
The plan must identify evacuation routes and exits from the salon. Floor plans showing primary and secondary exit routes should be posted in visible locations throughout the salon. Exit routes must be kept clear of obstructions at all times. Emergency lighting must illuminate exit routes when normal lighting fails. Exit signs must be illuminated and visible from a reasonable distance.
Employee roles during emergencies must be assigned and communicated. Someone must be designated to call emergency services. Someone must be designated to ensure that all occupied areas are evacuated. Someone must be designated to meet emergency responders and direct them to the emergency location. Someone must be designated to account for all employees and clients after evacuation.
The plan must address clients who are in the middle of services when an emergency occurs. Clients who are reclined at shampoo stations, who have chemical treatments in process, or who are under dryers must be quickly moved to safety. Stylists must be trained to prioritize evacuation over completing services and to safely disconnect clients from equipment.
Emergency action plan requirements come from OSHA standards, local fire codes, and building codes.
OSHA EAP requirements at 29 CFR 1910.38 mandate that the plan include procedures for reporting a fire or other emergency, procedures for emergency evacuation including the type of evacuation and exit route assignments, procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate, procedures to account for all employees after evacuation, rescue and medical duties for employees who are designated to perform them, and the name or job title of every employee who may be contacted for further information or explanation of duties.
Fire code requirements supplement OSHA standards with additional requirements for fire emergency planning. Local fire codes may require fire evacuation drills at specified frequencies, posted evacuation floor plans, maximum occupancy compliance, and coordination with the local fire department on emergency procedures.
Building code requirements address emergency systems including exit signage, emergency lighting, fire alarm systems, and fire suppression systems that support the emergency action plan. The plan should reference these building systems and describe how they function during an emergency.
Employee training requirements under OSHA mandate that the plan be reviewed with each employee when the plan is developed, when the employee is initially assigned to the job, when the employee's responsibilities or designated actions under the plan change, and whenever the plan is changed. Training must cover alarm recognition, evacuation routes, assembly points, and assigned emergency roles.
Documentation requirements include maintaining the written plan, records of employee training, records of emergency drills, and records of plan reviews and updates. The plan must be available for employee review at all times.
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Determine whether you have a written emergency action plan. If so, review it for completeness against the OSHA requirements. Check whether all employees have been trained on the plan. Verify that evacuation routes are clear and exit signs are illuminated. Confirm that emergency contact information is current. Check whether you have conducted an evacuation drill in the past year. Verify that someone is designated for each emergency role.
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Try it free →Step 1: Assess Emergency Risks
Identify the emergencies most likely to affect your salon based on location, building type, and operations. Consider fire, chemical spill or exposure, medical emergency, severe weather, active threat, power outage, gas leak, flooding, and earthquake based on your geographic location. Prioritize planning for the most likely and most dangerous scenarios.
Step 2: Develop the Written Plan
Write an emergency action plan that addresses each required element. Include the procedures for reporting emergencies, the emergency phone numbers, the evacuation procedures with designated exit routes, the assembly point location, the procedures for accounting for all employees and clients, the designated emergency roles and responsibilities, and the procedures for specific emergency types identified in your risk assessment.
Step 3: Create Evacuation Floor Plans
Develop floor plans showing the salon layout, all exit routes, the locations of fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, first aid kits, and emergency shut-off locations. Mark primary and secondary exit routes. Indicate the designated assembly point outside the building. Post floor plans at conspicuous locations throughout the salon, including near exits and in areas where clients and staff spend time.
Step 4: Assign Emergency Roles
Designate specific individuals for key emergency roles including the person who calls emergency services, the floor warden who ensures complete evacuation, the person who meets emergency responders, the person who takes the employee and client headcount at the assembly point, and the person who operates emergency shut-offs if needed. Assign backup personnel for each role in case the primary designee is absent or unable to perform the role.
Step 5: Train All Employees
Conduct initial training for all employees on the emergency action plan. Cover alarm recognition, evacuation routes, assembly point location, individual roles and responsibilities, procedures for assisting clients during evacuation, and procedures for specific emergency types. Retrain employees whenever the plan changes or when new employees join. Document all training with dates, attendees, and topics covered.
Step 6: Conduct Drills and Review
Conduct at least one evacuation drill per year, and more frequently if required by local fire code. Time the drill to evaluate evacuation efficiency. Identify problems such as blocked exits, confusion about routes, incomplete headcounts, or slow response. Debrief after each drill and update the plan based on lessons learned. Review the plan at least annually and whenever there are changes to the building layout, exit routes, emergency contacts, or staffing.
OSHA requires an emergency action plan for all covered employers. For employers with 10 or fewer employees, the plan may be communicated orally rather than in writing. However, a written plan is strongly recommended even for the smallest salons because it provides a consistent, permanent reference that ensures all employees receive the same information. A written plan can be reviewed during training sessions, posted for easy reference, and updated systematically when conditions change. An oral-only plan depends on memory and verbal transmission, which are prone to error and inconsistency. The plan does not need to be lengthy or complex. A basic plan covering the required elements may be only a few pages. Templates and guidance for developing emergency action plans are available from OSHA and many state occupational safety agencies.
Client evacuation is one of the unique challenges for salons. The emergency action plan should specifically address how to manage clients who are in various stages of service. Clients at shampoo stations should be helped upright immediately. Clients with chemical treatments in process should be evacuated as-is, with the understanding that chemical removal will occur after safety is assured. Clients under hooded dryers should be guided out from under the equipment. Clients in reclined positions for facials or other treatments should be assisted to an upright position. Staff should be trained to prioritize evacuation over treatment completion and to assist clients who may be disoriented, elderly, or have mobility limitations. The emergency plan should remind staff that client belongings including purses, phones, and coats should be left behind if collecting them delays evacuation. Clear, calm verbal instructions help guide clients who may be unfamiliar with the salon layout.
OSHA requires that employees be trained on the emergency action plan but does not specify a mandatory drill frequency. However, local fire codes typically require evacuation drills at specified intervals, often annually or semi-annually for commercial occupancies. Beyond minimum requirements, best practice is to conduct at least one full evacuation drill per year and to review the emergency action plan with all employees at least annually. Consider conducting tabletop exercises for non-evacuation emergencies such as medical emergencies, chemical spills, and severe weather. Tabletop exercises walk through the response procedure verbally without actually evacuating, allowing staff to practice decision-making and communication. New employees should receive emergency plan training during their first week and should participate in the next scheduled drill. Document all drills including the date, participants, time to evacuate, observations, and corrective actions.
Emergency action plan compliance prepares your salon for the unexpected. Evaluate your salon's safety practices with the free hygiene assessment tool and develop your emergency plan using this guide. For comprehensive salon compliance management, visit MmowW Shampoo. 安全で、愛される。 Loved for Safety.
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