Workplace Emergency Preparedness

2/19/2018 (Permalink)

Get Ready for Any Emergency!

Workplace Emergency Preparedness

The time to prepare for a workplace emergency is before it occurs. We never expect an emergency or disaster to happen in our home, workplace or community. The truth is an emergency or disaster could happen anywhere at any time. Having a well thought out emergency action plan is the best way you can protect your yourself, your family, your business and your employees. These unforeseen emergency situations can be natural or man-made and they threaten us by causing physical harm or environment damages.

Unexpected emergencies can include the following categories.

Weather emergencies:

Floods

Earthquakes

Hurricanes

Tornadoes

Environmental emergencies:

Fires

Toxic Gas releases

Explosion

Accidental or deliberate release of hazardous biological agents, or toxic chemicals

Pandemic disease

Man-made emergencies:

Civil Disturbances

Workplace violence

Deliberate release of hazardous biological agents, or toxic chemicals

Active shooter

Most people cannot think clearly and logically in a crisis. The first step in being prepared is to brainstorm all the potential emergencies that could disrupt your workplace. Once you establish your vulnerability you will want to address these objectives.

Steps to create an Emergency Preparedness Plan:

• The most important objective will be to prevent injuries or fatalities.

1. Who is responsibly to alert employees?
2. How will they be alerted?
3. Is evacuation required? What is the evacuation plan?
4. How to determine a safe meeting space?

• Call for help, fire department, police, medics etc.

1. What emergency phone numbers do we need?
2. Who will have access to this list?
3. Who is responsible to make the phone calls?

• When possible act to reduce the damage to your building and contents.

1. Where are the main shut off valves?
2. SERVPRO offers a ERP (Emergency Ready Profile) at no cost. We will send a SERVPRO representative to help you assess your facility.

After all emergency situations are analysis create your Emergency Preparedness Plan and put it in writing. It will then be important to set-up training for all employees. It is also a good idea to have practice drills to prepare employee and this also helps to evaluate your Emergency Preparedness Plan.