Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Safe work, maintenance and competence

Emergency procedure

Also known as: emergency response procedure

In occupational safety, an emergency procedure is a controlled response for foreseeable emergencies, defining roles, communication, shutdown, evacuation and recovery.

  • Machine safety
  • Human factors
  • Technical documentation

In one sentence

An emergency procedure sets out who does what when a foreseeable emergency happens, from shutdown and evacuation to recovery.

Example

For a hydraulic hose rupture on a press line, the emergency procedure defines who operates the emergency stop, who isolates the hydraulic power unit, how the area is cleared and who releases a trapped person.

How it applies

  • Machine safety: The machine manufacturer describes machine-specific emergency actions, such as freeing a trapped person or lowering a load without power. The operator builds the site emergency procedure around them.
  • Human factors: People under stress follow short, practiced routines. Keep the procedure brief, post it where it is needed and practice it in drills.
  • Technical documentation: The operating manual should cover foreseeable emergencies and the location and function of the emergency stop. Recovery steps need the same precision as normal operation.
  • Evidence: Drill records and reviews after incidents show whether the procedure works; update it when the machine or layout changes.

Emergency procedure vs. safe operating procedure

A safe operating procedure governs a normal task. An emergency procedure governs the response when something has gone wrong.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 25, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: AI TechDoc Knowledge editorial definition, based on ISO 45001:2018, Occupational health and safety management systems

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Knowledge and are not part of any standard.

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