September is National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It’s a great time for employers to reevaluate their Emergency Preparedness and Action Plans. Emergency situations can occur at home or at the job, and can be devastating for communities. Establishing an effective Emergency Action Plan is crucial.

In the workplace, emergency procedures should be tested and practiced by all staff. It is important to perform drills regularly and ensure staff know the correct actions to take, should an emergency occur. Re-evaluating and making necessary changes to the emergency plan is crucial to maintain a safety culture at a workplace.

An emergency can present itself in many forms. Emergencies can result in property damages, injured employees, customers, or other individuals, business interruption and more. Such emergencies can include…

– Fire/flood
– Earthquake/tornado/hurricane
– Explosions
– Hazardous material accidents
– Loss of an important customer or provider
– Communications failure

Below are some initial steps to formulate your own Emergency Action Plan within your organization:

– Formulate a team to develop the Emergency Action Plan.
– Analyze all potential hazards and estimate the probability of the hazard occurring
– Outline response procedures for all potential emergencies
– Conduct training/drills to assure all personnel are aware of their role during each emergency
– Assess and amend the plan as necessary.

In light of the recent fires, floods, and hurricanes, make it a priority to be prepared for potential emergencies.