California Compliance Guide

Emergency Action Plan for California Businesses

Regulated by the Cal/OSHA and California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Understand California's specific requirements under Cal/OSHA Title 8 CCR Section 3220 (Emergency Action Plan); California Government Code Section 8607 (Standardized Emergency Management System — SEMS) and generate your compliant document in minutes.

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California compliance requirements

Key regulatory details that make California different from the federal baseline.

Regulatory Agency

Cal/OSHA and California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)

Key State Statute

Cal/OSHA Title 8 CCR Section 3220 (Emergency Action Plan); California Government Code Section 8607 (Standardized Emergency Management System — SEMS)

How California differs from the federal baseline

Cal/OSHA requires every employer to have a written Emergency Action Plan and a separate Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) — the IIPP requirement is unique to California.
California's Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) requires state and local government agencies to use standardized emergency response procedures, and many private healthcare facilities must also comply.
California emergency plans must address earthquake preparedness, wildfire evacuation, and power shutoff events (Public Safety Power Shutoffs by utilities) — hazards not common in most other states.

Penalty Information

Cal/OSHA can cite employers up to $25,000 per serious violation for inadequate emergency action plans. Cal/OSHA also issues citations for failure to maintain an IIPP, which is a separate but related requirement.

California context

California's seismic risk, wildfire season, and utility Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events make emergency action planning uniquely complex. Businesses must prepare for earthquakes, wildfires, mudslides, and planned power outages — often with very short notice.

What your Emergency Action Plan covers

A comprehensive document with 10 sections and an estimated 15-22 pages, tailored to California requirements.

Sections

15-22

Estimated Pages

California compliance checklist

Actionable steps combining federal requirements with California-specific obligations.

Develop a written Emergency Action Plan compliant with Cal/OSHA Section 3220

Maintain a separate Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) per Cal/OSHA Section 3203

Include earthquake response procedures: drop-cover-hold, structural assessment, and post-quake evacuation

Address wildfire evacuation and air quality response for days when AQI is hazardous

Plan for Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events including backup power and data protection

Conduct emergency drills at least annually and document participation and lessons learned

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Related compliance guides

Emergency Action Plan in other states

Florida Texas New York Pennsylvania Ohio Illinois Georgia North Carolina Michigan