Objective  The influencing factors of emergency response to acute occupational poisoning accidents were analyzed in order to provide a basis for relevant departments to strengthen their emergency response capabilities against these accidents.

  Methods  Based on the 4 R theory of crisis management, the influencing factors of emergency response to acute occupational poisoning accidents were extracted from four aspects: emergency preparedness, emergency plan, response, and recovery. The multi-level hierarchical structure of the influencing factors was determined using interpretative structural modeling (ISM), and then the driving force and dependence of each influencing factor were calculated using the cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC), and targeted emergency response strategies were proposed.

  Results  A total of 12 influencing factors for emergency response to acute occupational poisoning accidents were identified. Among them, emergency plans, emergency drills, emergency training, and organizational scheduling were not only the most fundamental, deep-seated factors affecting emergency response to acute occupational poisoning accidents but also the factors with the strongest driving force. Controlling poisons and isolating hazardous areas were the most critical direct factors in the emergency response to acute occupational poisoning accidents.

  Conclusions  In the emergency response to an accident, priority should be given to controlling poisons and isolating hazardous areas. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to strengthen the construction of emergency plans, emergency drills, emergency training, and organizational scheduling.