As a leader in your organization, you may wonder if you are required by law to provide your personnel with Active Shooter training and/or have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). The references below will help answer these questions. While most employers prefer to be proactive in avoiding fines and potential lawsuits, their primary concern is to protect their employees and clients.

 

In 1970, the United States Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This agency has jurisdiction over most employers in the private sector. Under the OSH Act of 1970, section 5(a)(1) of the General Duty Clause states that each employer, "shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees." This requirement is also outlined in Title 29 U.S. Code, Section 654 (Duties of employers and employees).

 

29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 1910.38 outlines OSHA's requirements for employers to have an EAP. For example, part 1910.38(b) maintains that a written EAP must be available in the workplace for employees to review, however, "an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally to employees."