1910.120(q)(2): Emergency Response Plan Elements
Employers covered by HAZWOPER emergency response must develop an emergency response plan that covers, at a minimum, pre-emergency planning, roles and authority, training and communication, recognition and prevention, safe distances, site security, evacuation, decontamination, medical treatment and first aid, alerting procedures, critique and follow-up, and PPE and equipment.
Key takeaways
- 1910.120(q)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart H).
- OSHA cited it 34 times in the last 3 years, in 24 inspections, with $181,793 in current penalties.
- Most citations: CO (6), PA (5), OR (4).
- Related part: 1910.120(q) Emergency response to hazardous substance releases (405 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.120(q)(2) ("Elements of an emergency response plan") is one requirement inside 1910.120 Hazardous waste operations and emergency response, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart H). It includes 12 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(2) Elements of an emergency response plan. The employer shall develop an emergency response plan for emergencies which shall address, as a minimum, the following to the extent that they are not addressed elsewhere: 34 citations
(i) Pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties.
(ii) Personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication. 6 citations
(iii) Emergency recognition and prevention. 4 citations
(iv) Safe distances and places of refuge. 2 citations
(v) Site security and control. 4 citations
(vi) Evacuation routes and procedures.
(vii) Decontamination. 2 citations
(viii) Emergency medical treatment and first aid. 2 citations
(ix) Emergency alerting and response procedures. 1 citations
(x) Critique of response and follow-up.
(xi) PPE and emergency equipment. 4 citations
(xii) Emergency response organizations may use the local emergency response plan or the state emergency response plan or both, as part of their emergency response plan to avoid duplication. Those items of the emergency response plan that are being properly addressed by the SARA Title III plans may be substituted into their emergency plan or otherwise kept together for the employer and employee's use.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.120.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 12 |
Top states: CO (6), PA (5), OR (4), GA (3), IL (3)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| WOODLAND PULP, LLC | BAILEYVILLE, ME | $33,100 |
| CONSTELLATION ENERGY GENERATION, LLC | BYRON, IL | $16,550 |
| SK BATTERY AMERICA INC. | COMMERCE, GA | $16,131 |
| HANOVER FOODS CORPORATION | CENTRE HALL, PA | $12,000 |
| XPO | LA SALLE, IL | $11,900 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.120(q)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.120(q)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.120(q) Emergency response to hazardous substance releases 405 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6) Training 143 citations
- 1910.120(q)(8) Refresher training 115 citations
- 1910.120(q)(8)(i) 112 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6)(i) First responder awareness level 75 citations
- 1910.120(q)(1) Emergency response plan 67 citations
- 1910.120(q)(3) Procedures for handling emergency response 33 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6)(iii) Hazardous materials technician 26 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6)(i)(A) 21 citations
- 1910.120(q)(3)(iv) 14 citations
- 1910.120(q)(6)(ii) First responder operations level 14 citations
- 1910.120(q)(3)(iii) 7 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What must an emergency response plan cover?
Pre-emergency planning, personnel roles, recognition and prevention, safe distances, site security, evacuation, decontamination, medical treatment, alerting procedures, critique and follow-up, and PPE and emergency equipment.
Can a local or state plan be used?
Yes. Emergency response organizations may use the local or state emergency response plan or both to avoid duplication.
Can SARA Title III plan items be used?
Yes. Items properly addressed by SARA Title III plans may be substituted into the emergency plan.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.120 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.