| Emergencies of some kind occur on a | | | | important part of any emergency response |
| daily basis, sometimes several times in | | | | plan is to have designated exits for all |
| the same day. It should come as no | | | | locations within the building and to |
| surprise that the key to surviving an | | | | mark these clearly. An escape route sign |
| emergency is being prepared. Chaos and | | | | must be located by all doors. Keeping |
| confusion can quickly turn a bad | | | | exits clear and accessible is also |
| situation into a devastating one. This | | | | essential. |
| is true for both the home and the | | | | Some employees may be designated, in |
| workplace as well. Emergencies are high | | | | certain emergencies, to stay back and |
| stress situations, and can be made | | | | begin the emergency response. This may |
| significantly worse by having not being | | | | include a hazardous materials team that |
| prepared. The best way to combat this is | | | | is trained and properly equipped to |
| to have a plan ready to enact should an | | | | handle small spills. It may be an |
| emergency arise. | | | | employee with emergency response |
| Emergency Response plans are a | | | | training who does a quick sweep of the |
| requirement for any workplace. Even fire | | | | building with respiratory protection. |
| departments and police stations must | | | | These duties must be clearly spelled out |
| have an emergency response plan in place | | | | in the plan, and training and equipment |
| should an emergency occur within their | | | | must be supplied. These are extreme |
| building. These plans, of course, look | | | | cases and should be coordinated with |
| much different than most businesses | | | | local emergency crews. |
| emergency plans, whether small or large, | | | | The plan must clearly define what an |
| but they are still a requirement. | | | | emergency is and what employees, in each |
| Planning and training phases, though, | | | | of the various jobs or locations, is |
| mean nothing on paper. These plans must | | | | expected to do. They must be trained in |
| be studied, understood, and practiced by | | | | the plan so they know their duties and |
| employees. | | | | expectations. Practicing various aspects |
| When putting together an emergency | | | | of the emergency response plan is a key |
| response plan for a small business, it | | | | component, as well. Confusion is reduced |
| is important to address those | | | | by practicing and the comfort level |
| emergencies that are most likely to | | | | rises. Not all aspects of the plan must |
| occur first and work back from those | | | | be practiced, but the most likely |
| kinds of situations. For instance, a | | | | scenarios, and the most extreme, should |
| business in a warm climate should not | | | | be drilled. |
| focus all of their energy on a plan for | | | | An emergency response plan is not going |
| a major blizzard or ice storm. Moreover, | | | | to cover every possible emergency. It |
| a company in a landlocked, northern | | | | should address the most likely scenarios |
| location does not need to spend as much | | | | and then have a general plan in place |
| time on a plan for a hurricane. | | | | for major disasters. The evacuation will |
| Geography plays a large role in the | | | | be much the same for a fire as for a |
| planning process, but the nature of the | | | | chemical spill. A major storm may |
| business must factor in, as well. A | | | | require "sheltering-in-place", just as a |
| company that deals with large sums of | | | | major hazardous material incident |
| money in cash must be concerned with the | | | | outside the building might. A general |
| threat of a robbery. A business that | | | | plan in place for all emergencies will |
| deals with chemicals must be prepared | | | | help build a basic understanding of what |
| for spills or reactions. Knowing the | | | | is expected. Additional roles and |
| dangers inherent in the business is | | | | responsibilities may come into play for |
| vital in the planning process. Fires are | | | | more specific emergencies. A person |
| a possibility for any business. These | | | | should be designated in charge in any |
| should be addressed early in the | | | | situation where the plan is called into |
| planning stages. The evacuation | | | | play. This person would be responsible |
| procedure for a fire may be similar to | | | | for overseeing the implementation of the |
| many other evacuations. This section of | | | | plan and communicating with emergency |
| the plan can then be expanded to develop | | | | crews. A "second-in-charge" should also |
| the plans for other kinds of | | | | be designated, or a regular chain or |
| emergencies. | | | | command established, should the first |
| A good plan will also help emergency | | | | person be unable to perform their |
| crews when they arrive on scene. A well | | | | duties. |
| thought out and practiced plan may help | | | | Coordinating with local emergency crews |
| conserve property damage as well. Steps | | | | and setting up drills is a good way to |
| like closing interior doors when leaving | | | | practice, and adapt the plan. The |
| might help control the spread of fire or | | | | Federal Emergency Management Agency has |
| chemicals. This one step, which may | | | | training available to help small |
| viewed as a small detail, could save the | | | | businesses develop and implement a good |
| business owner a significant amount of | | | | emergency response plan. The |
| money. | | | | Occupational Safety & Health |
| A common meeting place for all employees | | | | Administration also offers guidance in |
| also helps with getting an accurate head | | | | helping with this planning process. |
| count to make sure everyone is out. An | | | | |