You may be wondering why should have an emergency plan in case of disaster. You might think you’re okay in the event that you’ve got the supplies in your inventory and are ready to lock yourself up when the worst happens.
It would be so easy!
It is essential to have stockpiled and you must have several items for preparedness in your vehicle and office. However, having the tools by themselves won’t make you come through a disaster without injury.
There are a number of important aspects to take into consideration prior to or during and following a disaster and among the most important is definitely having an emergency plan of action. Implementing a plan today can save the life of your employee as well as your company’s.
To further help you learn to help you learn more, we have compiled a guide to creating one and preparing in case of an emergency.
Review the risks in your Workplace
The first step to develop an emergency plan of action is to determine what kinds of catastrophes are likely to be a possibility in your workplace. This will depend on the field and where you are located. When you have a list of potential disasters then you must evaluate the potential risks that come with each.
What is the likelihood that the catastrophe could occur? What would the consequences be in the event of a disaster? Are you prepared at your workplace for the catastrophe?
It is important to discuss what you’ve learned with the boss or other top employee. They’ll be able to aid you in creating plans to minimize the chance of a catastrophe taking place and how to handle the aftermath should one occur.
Perform a Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
Be aware of all possible risks which could be affecting your customers, employees, and your business. Once you’ve identified possible hazards it is time to assess the risks that come with each. This process will help you determine the danger’s severity and the probability of it happening.
Next, establish the controls that are in place to limit the risk related to the risk. This could be as simple as security equipment and procedures and training. Additionally, you must consider any additional controls which could be put into to decrease the dangers.
Prepare emergency kits
It’s impossible to predict the moment an emergency could occur, so it’s recommended to have a plan in place. Here’s how to create an emergency plan for the workplace
Begin With the Basics
Begin by making your list of items you must have to include in the emergency kits. The essentials include first-aid kits including food and water as well as a flashlight and the NOAA Weather radio. You can then supplement your list of items according to the particular requirements of your work environment.
If, for instance, there is an office in your building, you may consider putting in a mini-fire extinguisher as well as a supply of batteries. If you work outside You might want to include extra protection from insects, sunscreen, and a first aid kit for snake bites. Pick items that are the most likely to get used, and are suitable for the particular setting that you work in.
Don’t Forget about Communication Tools
In the process of preparing emergency kits at work, make sure to include tools for communication to ensure that everyone stays connected. Two-way radios or walkie-talkies are ideal along with an energized cellphone and batteries. If you own an old-fashioned landline phone, add the landline phone too.
A chalkboard or whiteboard could be helpful to share messages and updates. Don’t forget the traditional method of communication with a whistle!
Collect Emergency Contact Information for Employees
Information about emergency contact numbers for employees can be accomplished using simple forms or spreadsheets that employees fill out and update when needed. It is crucial that this data is at hand in the event there is an emergency.
Collect and Store Insurance Information
It’s crucial to keep all your insurance information kept in a single location in the event in the event of an emergency. Begin by creating an inventory of all insurance policies you own with the policy number as well as contact details. Make sure to keep the list in a secure spot, such as a safe lock box or a safety deposit box.
You might also want to capture photos or scan copies of vital insurance papers to have in your wallet. If you have to face emergencies, you’ll feel thankful you took the time to make a plan of action for an emergency.
Establish Evacuation Procedures
If you are preparing an emergency plan of action among the items you must create evacuation procedures. That means you must decide how to remove people from the building in a situation in the event of an emergency. It is important to think about aspects like exits and lighting at exit locations, evacuation routes, as well as safe zones.
Also, you should think about how you’ll be able to communicate with the people in an evacuation. This could include using a PA system, making an emergency call designated, or making use of signals.
Save important files and data
Back up important data and files for your employees and business. This is done by copying files onto your external storage device or cloud accounts.
If you can, save backups in a separate location from those original data files. This will make sure that important data won’t be deleted in the case of catastrophe.
Once the data is backed up, make a list of the most important applications and systems. This includes financial records, email, and databases of customers.
Each application should be identified as having an alternative plan for backup. This could involve making use of a different service provider or even running a local copy of the application.
Examine backup systems on a regular basis to ensure that they’re functioning in the way you expect. In the event of a disaster immediately, you must take action to implement the emergency action plan. This can help reduce the effects of the catastrophe and help keep vital business operations operating.
The creation of an Emergency Action Plan
A well-planned emergency action plan could mean the difference between an uncontrolled evacuation and a well-planned and safe evacuation. Making one should be a joint effort by employees and management. The plan should be thoroughly practiced and reviewed frequently.
These steps can help you make sure that you have a complete and efficient emergency plan. If this article will be useful to you take a look at our other blog posts!
