Preparing Your Business for Emergencies:A Step-by-Step Guide

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Are you Prepared?

• How well prepared is your business now?• What procedures do you already have in

place for an emergency situation? • What potential emergency situations could

occur?

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Three basic steps to getting prepared:

• Know the risks• Make a plan• Get a kit

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STEP 1

Know the risks Know your region

The consequences of emergencies can be similar, but knowing the risks in yourregion can help you better prepare.

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STEP 1

Risks in British Columbia

• Avalanches• Earthquakes• Severe storms• Floods• Chemical releases• Pandemic influenza• Landslides• Storm surges• Tsunamis• Wildfires

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STEP 1

The Canadian Disaster Database

• The Canadian Disaster Database references to all types of Canadian disasters, including those triggered by natural hazards, technological hazards or conflict (not including war). The database describes where and when a disaster occurred, who was aff ected, and provides a rough estimate of the direct costs.

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STEP 2

Making A Plan – BASICS

• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system should be secure, could it feasibly be upgraded to better filter potential contaminants, and be sure you know how to turn it off if you need to.

• Think about what to do if your employees can't go home.

• Make sure you have appropriate supplies on hand.

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STEP 2

Make a plan – BASICS

• When is evacuation necessary? • Designate primary and secondary evacuation routes

and emergency exits clearly marked and well lit. • Post signs. • Install emergency lighting in case a power outage

occurs during an evacuation.

You aren’t prepared — until you make a plan.

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STEP 2

Make A Plan – BASICS

• Ensure that evacuation routes and emergency exits are: – Wide enough to accommodate the number of evacuating

people – Clear and unobstructed at all times – Unlikely to expose evacuating people to additional hazards

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STEP 2

Make A Plan – BASICS

• Coordinate your plan with the local emergency management office.

• Designate “evacuation wardens” who will help others during an evacuation and account for employees.

• Establish specific evacuation procedures. • Establish a system for accounting for evacuated

employees.

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STEP 2

Make A Plan – BASICS

• Hold emergency drills at least once a year and keep records of such drills.

• Consider the transportation needs of employees.• Post evacuation procedures where employees can read

them. • Establish procedures for assisting people with

disabilities and people who do not speak English. • Consider how you would access important personal

information about employees in an emergency.

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STEP 2Making A Plan - Assembly Areas and Accountability

• Designate assembly areas where people should gather after evacuating.

• Establish a head-count system for employees at the assembly area.

• Establish a method of accounting for non- employees such as suppliers and customers.

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STEP 2

Making A Plan - Education and training

• Emergency response training for your employees should address the following:

– Individual roles and responsibilities – Potential threats, hazards, and protective actions – Notification, warning, and communications procedures – How to locate family members in an emergency– Emergency response procedures – Evacuation, shelter, and accountability procedures – Location and use of common emergency equipment

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STEP 2Make a plan

What emergency information is necessary?

Provide employees with information such as:• checklists and evacuation maps.

• Post evacuation maps in strategic locations.

• Consider the information needs of customers and others who visit your store.

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STEP 2Make a plan

How often should training take place?

• You should conduct training sessions at least once a year, or whenever you:

– Hire new employees – Designate evacuation wardens or others with special

assignments – Introduce new equipment, materials, or processes – Find, through exercises, that employee performance needs

to be improved

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STEP 2Make a plan

First Aid

• What level of first aid does my business need? – Visit WorkSafeBC.com to determine the appropriate level

of first aid supplies, attendants, and services for your workplace

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STEP 2Make a plan

Employee Support

• Crisis counseling • Reduced or flexible work hours • Cash advances • Salary continuation • Care packages • Daycare

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STEP 2Make a plan

The five steps in developing a Preparedness Program

• Program Management• Planning• Implementation• Testing and Exercise• Program Improvement

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STEP 2Make a plan

Special Needs

• Health information card• Grab-and-go bag with

medication, prescriptions, medical documents

• Walkers, oxygen tanks and other emergency supplies

• Personal support network

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STEP 2Make a plan

Employees who are prepared for emergencies at home and school are better able to carry out their responsibilities at work.

Consider ways to help employees prepare for emergencies at home — this will increase their personal safety and can help your facility get back up and running quicker if an emergency occurs

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STEP 3

Prepare a kit

To prepare for an emergency that could last 72 hours or more, what would you put in a kit?

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STEP 3Get a kit

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Pre-packaged kits:

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Thank You..Questions?