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