Preparing for Disasters

General Liability

Introduction

The one coverage that provides you and your business the most protection is General Liability.

The CGL, or Commercial General Liability policy provides basic liability protection against the most common sources of liability loss for businesses and their owners.

Definition

Liability: In the context of general liability insurance, it

means “damages for which a business is legally liable.”

Legal liability is determined through the courts system. General liability coverage responds if you are sued for damages, and lose in court.

Damages include the familiar bodily injury and property damage, but can also include a number of other types of occurrences, which are discussed below.

Suggested Plan Outline

Purpose

Roles & Responsibilities

Definitions

Procedure

– Preparation

– During

– Post Event

Training

Attachments

– Phone list

– IT plans

– Supply List

– Incident Critique

Internal & External Threats

Utility Failures

– Electrical failure, generator failure, fire alarm failure, information systems failure, sewage, telephone systems, water main breaks, heating/air conditioning systems

Weather-Related Hazards

– Snowstorm, ice storm, severe cold, extreme heat, humidity, flood, tornado, hurricane

Structural Hazards

– Fire, smoke, chemical or hazardous material spills, gas leaks, flooding

Roles & Responsibilities

It is important everyone know their role and responsibilities during an emergency situation.

This will prevent any confusion that could potentially lead to increased property damage or employee injuries.

Roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined within the company’s Disaster/Emergency Action Plan.

Procedures – Preparation

Identify emergency supplies

Identify business-critical records

Inventory equipment

Have a camera/video equipment available

Employee & Staff Phone Lists

Client contact information

Have evacuation/relocation maps posted

Procedures – Impending Emergency

Communication – the who and how

– Cell phones are a great invention!

– Make use of recorded messages

– Know which large companies will have plant closing information broadcast on local TV/radio

Track weather developments

Move electronic equipment, if necessary

Relocate critical paper records, if necessary

Procedures – During

Communication

Know and identify emergency signals

Evacuation routes (maps) along with alternative routes if principal routes are obstructed

Evacuation and relocation procedures should be detailed in your plan

Accounting for employees after the emergency

Address how people needing assistance will handled.

Contact person for emergency response personnel

Procedures – Post-Emergency

Communication

Ensure all persons are accounted for

Assess any damages/take pictures

Clean up and secure

Address how operations can continue if branch office sustains minor to moderate damage

Address how to relocate operations if branch office sustains severe damage

Insurance

Training

Training should be given specific to the assignment site’s facility procedures

– As the employer, it is your responsibility to ensure your employees have been properly trained. A recommendation is also made to document safety training (agendas, sign in sheets, etc.)

Fire, tornado, hurricane, and other weather-related emergencies

Attachments

Phone Lists

IT Plans – data back up

Supply List

Incident Critique

Summary

A well-developed plan with proper employee training results in fewer, and less severe, injuries and less structural damage to the facility.

A poorly-prepared plan leads to a disorganized evacuation or emergency response, resulting in confusion, injury and property damage.