Every day we are faced with potential emergencies.  Car accidents on the interstate, tornadoes, fires, emergency health developments, etc.  As a business owner, it is your responsibility to provide a safe environment and plan for how to respond in a crisis.  Training your employees and making clear what the expectations are may just save a life should the situation arise.

As a recent example, the tornadoes that violently ripped through much of the south and east portions of the United States created many nightmares for those affected. We heard of one story that exemplifies the need for emergency preparedness.  On a small picturesque quiet little street, two businesses went about business as usual.  As part of their operations, one had a plan in place for what to do should an emergency occur and had conducted training for its employees.  The other owner had done nothing to prepare in advance.  Unfortunately, the results were as you can guess, disastrous.  When mother nature unleashed its wrath, the proprietor who planned ahead successfully gathered emergency supplies and staff together in the safest location of the building.  The second owner who had ignored safety preparedness experienced confusion and panic from their employees while trying to figure out how to respond during the emergency. 

What can you do to help prevent a bad situation from becoming worse?  
1. have a written emergency evacuation procedure that includes floor plans and indicate exit locations and fire extinguishers.  Communicate these procedures with your staff.
2. have an emergency kit stocked and accessible in each building of your business.  Include in this kit, contact phone numbers for medical treatment facilities in your area.
3. have a designated location for all staff members to report to immediately after an emergency is declared.  Keep a staff roster with emergency contact information in an easily accessible location and account for all individuals by roll call to ensure safety and well-being of all employees.
4. Appoint an employee as your safety manager if you do not already employ someone in this capacity.  Ensure that they review procedures and update deliverables at least once a year and as changes occur. 
5. Stock bottled water and non-perishable food snack items in your emergency area.  This can help extend survival in the event you need it.

For more tips and information on preparing for and responding to an emergency, please contact us for a complimentary copy of our Emergency Response Plan whitepaper. 303-466-7864 or info@StaffScapes.com