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