Is Your Workplace Prepared for a Potential Disaster?

Businesses face a variety of natural and man-made hazards: tornados, flu epidemics, power failures, and acts of violence to name a few. September was officially named “Disaster Preparedness Month” by the federal government in 2004 as a time to raise awareness about the need to be prepared at home, at work, and community-wide.

We are reminded every time a natural disaster makes the news that we should have a plan for our family. Children practice drills at school for fires, bus crashes, lockdowns and more. Our local governments and volunteer groups work together to plan for local emergencies.
What about at work? Are you taking steps to keep your business and your team safe?

You have worked hard to build your business, investing a lot of time, money, and passion. A disaster could wipe it all away. It seems natural to take steps to protect your business but is often an activity that is brushed aside by more pressing daily needs. According to FEMA, 25% of businesses do not reopen after a major disaster. The 9/11 Commission Final Report states: “Private sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business in the post 9/11 world. It is ignored at a tremendous potential cost in lives, money, and national security.” (Chapter 12)

I experienced the importance of a workplace disaster plan a few years ago when a tornado was just a few blocks away from where I worked. Fortunately, we had a plan and, as one of the designated first responders, I knew what to do and how to lead others in a potentially perilous situation. After that experience, I started to take disaster preparedness much more seriously.

Preparing for natural and man-made disasters ahead of time is important. Our fight or flight reflexes tend to kick in during emergencies and it is easy to forget how to respond if you have not been trained and practiced your response ahead of time. Panic then ensues.
Preparing your workplace for emergencies does not have to be costly. And, when you consider the potential costs related to lack of preparation, the investment seems minor. There are many things you can do that are free or have a nominal cost associated with them, such as making sure your fire extinguishers are updated and designating an interior room as the tornado shelter. CPR training can be done as a team-building exercise, and so on.

So, what should a disaster preparedness plan for the workplace look like? Much of it is dependent on geography, location, and the nature of your business. A good guideline is that you should plan at work for any disaster that could occur at home: tornado, flood, forest fire, hurricane, gas pipe leaks, etc., depending on the region of the country you live in.
Some of your preparedness requirements and protocols may be regulated by local, state, or federal government. For example, if you work with dangerous chemicals, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires a plan for everything from a one-person emergency to a site-wide emergency. OSHA also requires an emergency plan for any workplace with more than 10 employees. You should also check with your insurance company to make sure you have a clear understanding of what is and is not covered by your policy and what standards are required for a claim to be approved. There might also be premium discounts for taking certain actions.

FEMA has resources at ready.gov to help small businesses develop continuity of business and disaster preparedness plans. They provide a guideline manual, a risk assessment table, and information to guide employee committees in creating plans. They even have a form to document an emergency plan for the commute to and from work!

Having a disaster plan increases the ability of your business to be resilient in the face of a natural or man-made disaster. It can also help you protect your employees and your community and increase your company’s security. If you do not have the bandwidth to develop an emergency plan, consider outsourcing the project.  Not only is creating a disaster preparedness plan the right thing to do it is the smart thing to do. Make it a priority today.
Location: Dallas, TX, USA

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