Does your business have an emergency plan?

4/26/2021 (Permalink)

It is a good idea for businesses large and small to have a plan in place in the event that a disaster strikes. Normally, it is a physical document that helps to keep employees organized during an emergency. 

1. Establish Reporting Procedures

There are the standard procedures, which include but are not limited to, dialing 911 or pulling a fire alarm. However, a company may wish to establish a system that is unique, and therefore better suited to its individual needs. One example of that would be a bank. They may have a button that is pushed during a robbery to silently notify the authorities. Your company may not need a silent alarm but rather something that could specifically relate to your line of work 

2. Decide Exit Routes

An evacuation plan is made so that employees, should an emergency arise, know when, where, and how to evacuate. The plan should detail who can order an evacuation and explains the conditions in which they would. It should also feature exit maps or diagrams so that employees can follow escape routes easily. 

3. Explain Emergency Procedures

In critical emergencies where equipment or tools must be used before moving forward with the contingency plan, all hazards must be explained. These hazards may include breaking glass or the how to properly use fire extinguishers. 

4. Ensure Employee Safety

A procedure to ensure that employees evacuate safely is necessary. Someone may need to be assigned the duty of checking offices and restrooms to make sure no one gets left behind in an emergency. This step could also be accomplished by implementing a simple roll call. 

5. Maintain Contact Information for Employees

Keeping a record of employee names and phone numbers is useful during an emergency. Having this ahead of time will make it easier to locate them either during or immediately after, an emergency. 

6. Know Who To Call for Cleanup

It's also a good idea to have the contact information for commercial building restoration services on hand. Enlisting the help of professionals can help get your business back on its feet in a quick and stress-free manner. 

SERVPRO of Limestone and Lawrence Counties is here to help with all your emergency restoration needs. We are open 24/7 365 days a year to help you get back to normal. Call us at (256) 233-4033.