Tips on preparing your workplace for a disaster or emergency situation.

1. Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016
Workplace Emergency Response
Plans

2. Stormy weather, chemical spills, fires, or worse.
Do your employees know what to do in the event of a
disaster?
The likelihood of natural disaster and the potential for
workplace disaster to cause extreme amounts of harm
highlights the need to have formal plans in place to
respond to workplace emergencies.
This makes a formal disaster plan a “must-have”
document.
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016

3. You need to have a plan for not only workers, but
also for any clients or customers who may be at your
business when disaster strikes.
Employees may not think about the information they
need to deal with an emergency; but you should.
What might help them to stay safe?
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016

4. Emergency plans cannot cover every conceivable
situation, but should supply the basic guidelines
necessary to cope with most emergencies.
Being physically and psychologically prepared to
handle emergencies is everyone’s responsibility.
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016

5. It is a good idea to have a disaster plan in place for Fire;
Extreme Weather and External disasters; Chemical spill;
Medical Emergencies; or Violent Acts or Persons (i.e.
your Bill 168 program)
The plan should provide:
 steps to eliminate or minimize adverse effects from
emergency situations which may affect the production
of work;
 procedures for proper response to emergencies;
 and instructions for your personnel to ensure that they
understand their responsibilities during emergency
situations.
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016

6. Some things to consider when creating your plan:
 Evacuation Plan: Precautionary (move to another
location within building or Safe rooms), Urgent (exit
building immediately)
 Exit strategies-how to escape the building to a
safer location as quickly as possible.
 Organizational Response Plans: Who from your
company will respond if it is after hours? Who
speaks to the media? Who takes charge of the
scene?
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016

7. Some things to consider when creating your plan:
 Back-up systems: have cell phones and walkie-
talkies charged and available so that staff can stay
in contact with each other/emergency services
during power outages
 Preventive measures: Ensure fire extinguishers are
kept charged, chemical spill and first aid kits are
properly stocked;
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016

8. Some things to consider when creating your plan:
 Prepare and provide emergency information:
◦ Make sure all emergency contact numbers are available;
◦ Make emergency documents available in a variety of
formats; for example, signs, policies, and through
training programs.
Employees may need this information in accessible
formats such as larger print or audio.
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016

9. Some things to consider when creating your plan:
 It may also be necessary to create a customized
evacuation plan to assist persons with disabilities.
If another person’s help is needed in an emergency,
get the employee’s consent, then share the
information on what kind of help they need with the
people who will help them.
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016

10. Take the Boy Scout motto to heart
“Be Prepared”
Make sure your employees are, too!
Kathryn Kissinger HR Services 2016