In the case of a disaster or emergency, it is important to recognize the potential costs if you do not prepare your business well under disaster circumstances. You take steps to lessen the potential risks that you or your employees could face if a disaster strikes your business. This includes preparing your employees with training and resources.
- Find a First Aid Class near you at
- Have an emergency kit and a ready evacuation/emergency plan so that all employees know where to go for safety.
- Know the best practices and what to do depending on emergency disaster circumstances. Include an exit plan and the resources accessible and necessary to successfully get all your staff to safety.
- It is good to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to provide oxygen to any undergoing cardiac arrest or unable to breathe until a response team can reach you in the case of an emergency. For more information, visit the red cross website here.
- All employees can benefit themselves by being well-prepared:
Work Emergency Kit Checklist
In the event of an emergency, you should be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Your work kit should include food, water, and other necessities like medicines, as well as comfortable walking shoes, all stored in a “grab and go” case. You spend a lot of your time at work, and so it is important that you maintain well-prepared in the case of a disaster/emergency, because you may not be able to reach home.
Click here to download the Work Emergency Kit Checklist.
Work Emergency Kit Checklist
- Water
- Non-perishable food
- Dust mask
- Pocket knife
- Whistle
- Emergency cash
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered radio, extra batteries
- Sturdy shoes
- Change of clothing
- Emergency point-of-contact phone numbers
- First aid kit, extra medicine, glasses, contact lens
TIP:
- Learn office evacuation routes, pack a work-place “Go-Bag,” and consider what you would need for your immediate safety.
- Make sure to keep everything in good condition/updated:
- Keep canned food in a cool, dry place
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers
- Replace expired items as needed
- Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change
Making a Plan
How often are your family and pets all in the same place on a given day? Your child is at school, you and your spouse are at work, your dog is at home, and your cat is somewhere off in the backyard. In the event of this emergency, you are stuck at work, so what’s the plan? The best thing to do in this situation is to be prepared to get yourself to safety immediately. However, in order to do this, you should have an evacuation plan, for example, if an earthquake or a fire occurs.
This Emergency Response Plan are some helpful tips and actions to plan for an emergency.
Insurance
Check your insurance policies to ensure that your business has enough coverage; call as soon as possible to discuss with your insurance carrier what they could provide in the event of a disaster.
Additionally, in the event of an emergency, the sooner insurance claims are filed, the quicker a business can receive a pay out in order to recuperate and save itself. Make sure you are in touch with your business insurance companies to confirm your available resources.
Preparedness Planning for Your Business is another good resource to best prepare your business for a disaster.
For more information, visit www.ready.gov.
