Emergency Preparedness For Businesses

Disasters are real and they can happen to anyone

. What is more important is how we prepare our company and our most important assets, our people, in times of disasters or emergencies. As a rule of thumb, your company and its people should be able to survive within the immediate 72 hours after the event. It may be an earthquake, flash floods or hurricane; but regardless of the hazard, it is important that businesses should have a plan to: 1) ensure the safety and well being of its employee; 2) protect the assets of the property; and 3) find ways to continue operations.

This article will focus on protecting your employees. This is the paramount objective of every company in any disaster event. Here are a few guidelines to achieve this end.

1. Awareness is Key

Inform your employees about the hazards that may affect them and their families. Hazard maps are available in your community or by the State. Use these to make your employees aware of the risks that they may face. Below are several ways to impart this knowledge to your employees:

Internal websites

Townhall meetings

Hazard Awareness Week

Brochures and print flyers

New staff briefing

2. Develop Your Plan

Who will do what? This is essentially the most basic question that one has to answer in developing the emergency plan. Your emergency plan is essentially a document that assigns responsibilities to your employees. There should be a Crisis Management Team, a group which has the ultimate decision-making responsibility. This should be comprised of senior management or those who have authority to make decisions. The other group is your Emergency Response Team. This team will be the eyes and ears of the business and they are essentially the response team of the CMT. This should be composed of your building engineers, security, logistics, external relations, safety officers, etc. They should be able to manage the consequences of any event for at least three days.

These two basic things are how you can prepare for the threats posed by hazards. Of course, there are the details in each of them but whoever said that emergency preparedness is going to be easy? More importantly, your plans should be tested on a regular basis. Your plan should not just be a flyer printing in your drawer or shelf; they should be living documents that need to be tested and revised accordingly and regularly.

by: karen grahams

POST COMMENT

How A Goal Setting Worksheet Can Change Your Business Affiliate Marketing- Legal Documents To Run The Business The Art Of Marketing War With Business Brochures Create Your Fabulous Business In 5 Simple Steps Real Payday Loans Bad Credit – Fast Cash Now Within Your Reach The Best Ways to Get Free Business Advertising Affiliate Marketing- Easy Way To Start Online Business Affiliate Marketing- Important Factor For The Merchants To Do Good Business How to Get Free Business Advertising Business Card Logo Design: The Most Compact Advertising Agent Small Business Credit Card Processing - Top Tips On Avoiding Paying More For Transactions Design Integration Tips For Business Cards Web Design Company is a best way to achieve your business target