The past year has been inundated with emergency situations, including wildfires, tornados, flooding, ice storms, a pandemic and civil unrest. These situations can take a toll on even the most prepared organizations in all industries. Fortunately, an emergency evacuation plan can prevent injuries, limit damages and allow operations to resume quickly.
Emergency Evacuation Considerations
An organization’s first priority is to protect the health and safety of everyone in their facility. A common means of protection is through the use of an emergency evacuation plan. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides a complimentary Emergency Evacuation Plan creation program.
Emergency preparation will help communicate responsibilities and procedures in response to fire, chemical, weather, utility or other emergencies. A plan will also assist in developing preventive actions.
We encourage you to develop a formal plan as it enables you to evaluate and identify the best course of action in the event of an emergency. If you already have a plan, make certain your strategy is updated when any changes arise.
Developing an Emergency Evacuation Plan
- Determine conditions when an evacuation would be necessary.
- Establish a clear chain of command.
- Designate who has the authority to order an evacuation.
- Assign specific areas where personnel should gather after evacuating. Take a head count.
- List the names and last known location of unaccounted personnel. Assembly area confusion can lead to unnecessary and dangerous search and rescue operations.
- Establish procedures for assisting non-English speaking workers and those with disabilities.
- Post evacuation procedures with clearly identifiable primary and secondary escape routes.
- Conduct training. Failing to practice can undermine even the best plans. Practice increases the likelihood of a confident and orderly evacuation.
- Coordinate plans with your local emergency management office.
The details involved in evacuation planning have to be written down, presented and practiced regularly. Employees need to understand what to do and know it so well that they can put the plan into action even when they are rattled.
We Can Help
Our dedicated property and casualty team represents the full array of insurance carriers. Their knowledge and experience have earned the trust of many businesses across the nation. Let us help you prepare for the unexpected with a solid evacuation plan today. To learn more about your options, contact a member of our team today.