February 11, 2004—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued its National Emergency Management Plan (NEMP), a new directive that clarifies the agency’s policies during responses to national emergencies. The NEMP outlines procedures to ensure that personnel and logistical and operational assistance are in place to provide technical assistance and guidance within the emergency response structure for responder and recovery workers’ health and safety.
The NEMP details the roles and responsibilities of the Agency’s national and regional offices during responses to nationally significant incidents, such as those that result in a Presidential Emergency Declaration, the activation of the Federal Response Plan, or a request for assistance from the Department of Homeland Security. Each region is required to develop a Regional Emergency Management Plan (REMP) and to coordinate with state plans and consultation projects to ensure that roles and responsibilities for OSHA’s federal, state, and local assets in the region are coordinated and complementary.
