General Preparedness Tips
The best way to handle a disaster is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Of course, this only counts for potential problems within your control. Training your employees on being proactive with safety measures is critical for a safe work environment. Implement procedures such as regularly performing system checks on fire and safety systems and ensuring all safety products are accessible and in working order. Revisit these procedures on a regular basis to keep everyone up to date.
Every business needs an evacuation plan. There should be a primary and a secondary evacuation route, if possible, that every employee knows well and practices. Designate a meeting place outside and have a team responsible to take roll to ensure everyone got out safely. If you have an employee in need of assistance, make sure their needs are addressed and understood in order to create a specific plan for their situation.
Another important aspect of emergency planning is to keep a list of important contacts, such as emergency personnel, disaster relief agencies, family members, applicable customers, and possibly distributors or suppliers. Keep a copy of this list offsite as well. Insurance contacts may also be included in this list, as contacting them quickly will help expedite any potential claims.
No business should be operating without an effective first aid kit. Keep this in an easily accessible place and make sure your employees know where it is. In addition to medical necessities, the kit should include water, flashlights, batteries, a tool kit, a battery powered radio, and some non-perishable foods. Along with this first aid kit, training for your employees on how to implement first aid is also imperative, including how to operate an AED machine (which is a specific, additional training).
Different businesses have different risks and may need to train accordingly. For example, a consultant business on the 15th floor of a high-rise in downtown Salt Lake City will need to prep for different strategies in the event of an earthquake or fire than a single-story office supply warehouse in Magna. It’s important to know the particular risks of your business and prepare for the unique challenges that could come your way.
Shield-Safety is Utah’s leading safety experts. We train businesses for any situation and can create a plan that is specific to your needs. Many employees we train are so satisfied with our information that they take their newly gained knowledge home to their family and friends and implement strategies in their personal lives. For all your training needs, contact us today.