Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and in particular the tragic loss of lives in the structural collapse of New York's Twin Towers, evacuation risk assessment and building evacuation training have become a rapidly growing segment of the security and protection industry.

Types of building evacuation training and risk assessment services and products include:

1. Business evacuation training and management software
2. Evacuation training videos and DVDs
3. Evacuation training simulators and other products
4. Institution-sponsored evacuation training programs and services
5. U.S. government agency-sponsored evacuation training programs and services

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get U.S. government evacuation training information

Find U.S. government evacuation consultants to help with your company's evacuation plans and procedures.

I recommend: A part of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has set the standards (albeit voluntary) for evacuation planning and procedures in the workplace. See their checklist to determine if your business needs an Emergency Action Plan. Also find out about evacuation risk assessment procedures as recommended by OSHA. For specific workplace evacuation planning, OSHA recommends "Best Practices in Workplace Security," a guide developed by the State of South Carolina (PDF). Sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, Ready.gov offers an emergency evacuation report (PDF) and contact information for their Office of Public Affairs.

Find out about evacuation training software, training videos and DVD products

Evacuation training software, training videos and DVD products address evacuations from specific types of disasters, workplace compliance with OSHA Emergency Action Plans and evacuation management systems applicable to large-scale emergency action.

I recommend: HR Training University is a private vendor selling an Emergency Action & Response Program kit that includes software and emergency practice maps. A UK company, Advanced Safety Training Services sells fire risk assessment and fire safety videos. RadiantRFID sells an evacuation management system package that includes hosted data management and emergency tracking solutions. Learning Communications sells videos and DVDs addressing a variety of emergency evacuation issues. FPW (the National Fire Protection Association) sells evacuation training videos and DVDs for the disabled. Business & Legal Reports (BLR) sells high rise evacuation training videos and DVDs for Spanish-language speakers.

Find companies that provide evacuation training services

Evacuation training services may consist of on-site evacuation consultants, tutorial documentation and evacuation training simulation devices.

I recommend: Industrial Compliance Corporation has location-specific advisers providing evacuation consulting for workplaces, helping them meet OSHA emergency evacuation standards. After 9/11, aircraft evacuation training has become a growing business. Ashford Technologies Inc. offers information about aircraft cabin emergency evacuation trainers (CEETs), a type of evacuation simulation equipment used to simulate aircraft doors and exits for pilots and crew training purposes. TFC Construction is a German company that sells CEETs to Boeing. CAMTECH Industries Ltd is a Canadian manufacturer of CEETs.

Explore academic-sponsored evacuation training programs

Many educational institutions provide in-depth free evacuation consulting materials aimed at students and employees. These materials can also be of value to the general public.

I recommend: Rutgers University offers an overview (PDF) of new technological developments in evacuation training programs. The University of Maryland has an in-depth emergency evacuation training slideshow presentation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make evacuation risk assessment a part of your company human resources handbook.