People Come First

Before data, before communications, before power… people are the first responsibility of preparedness. I recommend to every business, from the smallest to the enterprise, emergency plans should first focus on the people involved. Every business should have plans for fire evacuation, severe weather sheltering and workplace violence, at the very minimum.

A fire evacuation plan could be as simple as noting an alternative to the front door as a way to escape a small office. For a larger office, multiple exits should be noted, and meeting places for staff should be predetermined. Approaching emergency vehicles should be taken into consideration when planning meeting locations outside the building. It might not be prudent to have employees crossing a street in front of fire trucks that are preparing to fight a fire. In a larger office, there is also the matter of accounting for all staff in order to ensure no one has been left behind.

Severe weather can happen at any time of the day. A safe location inside the building should be determined, and all staff should be aware of that location in case of a weather emergency. It is best to put as many walls between yourself and the outside of the building as possible.  If your building has offices/restrooms in the center of the building away from windows and outer walls, those might be the safest places. Try to avoid large, open areas, as there is less roof support, and a roof collapse is more likely to cause injuries.

Workplace violence preparation is still an ongoing process. Violence in the workplace is not just limited to disgruntled employees, and can range from unhappy customers to robbery to domestic violence. The key to workplace violence preparation is having the correct policies in place and training your staff to recognize potential violence situations before they escalate. In other words, avoiding a potentially violent situation is far better than trying to escape one. Preparations for situations that cannot be avoided include a way to communicate to everyone in the building that there is such a situation, and staff training in ways to stay safe.

Planning for people should not be limited to employees but should also include contingencies for visitors. This is especially true for the business that has a steady flow of customers. Although it is near impossible to train customers, employees can be trained to assist visitors in emergency situations. Do not limit your emergency planning to the suggestions above, as they are very basic. Consider contacting your local fire and police department for suggestions and even necessary training. Organizations such as Safeguard Iowa and Citizen Corps can help provide training. Once your plans are in place, make sure to test them. Fire drills aren’t limited to schools. Testing provides training for employees as well as insight into how the plan might be improved. Don’t wait until an emergency situation arises before putting your plan to work.