Emergency Preparedness and the Importance of Up-to-Date Systems

Proper emergency preparedness is not only required by OSHA, but also vital to ensuring the safety of everyone at the facility. An emergency preparedness system includes everything from your emergency action plan to fire alarms. All devices should be fully upgraded, the plan updated to account for any changes, and all possible weaknesses covered to the point of redundancy. In the event of an emergency, lacking preparedness can hurt everyone involved.

Assessment

An action plan is useless if no one knows it exists. Are all employees familiar with the plan in place, and do they understand it fully? Does the plan cover all plausible emergencies? Communication is key. A poorly communicated plan is doomed to fail.

There’s also equipment to be assessed. Are all your systems and equipment working? Fire alarms, intercoms, etc., are all necessary parts of emergency preparedness. Do all your systems meet OSHA guidelines? What must be changed to fit those guidelines? Do your systems cover all potential emergencies? Are they up to date? Once you know what’s working and what isn’t, it’s time to fix what’s not working.

Upgrading

Repairs aren’t necessarily the best solution for a broken emergency system. If the repairs won’t fix the source of the problem causing the system to break, they will simply not be as effective as a complete system replacement.

This is also a good opportunity to consider new technology, such as mass notification, and incorporate it into your emergency systems. Fill any gaps in your systems, and ensure they all work together seamlessly. Interconnected systems will help keep everything running smoothly if an unexpected malfunction occurs.

Checklist

In elementary school, did you ever have an assembly where you were told to talk with your parents about making an emergency plan? In this case, rather than your parents, you’ll be making a plan with your employees. Prepare everything you’ll need in advance, and ensure those preparations are accessible if something happens. Make all employees aware of the plan, and update them whenever it changes. New employees should be briefed on where to find supplies and what to do in an emergency.

Example checklists for businesses and individuals may include the following:

For businesses:

  • Communicate the emergency action plan to all employees.

  • Confirm adherence to OSHA guidelines involving:

    • Means of egress

    • First aid

    • Fire prevention

    • Emergency alert systems

For individuals:

  • Communicate the emergency action plan to all household members.

  • Check fire alarms regularly.

    • If your fire alarms don’t include carbon monoxide warnings, consider upgrading them.

  • Make a “go bag” of necessities, including:

    • Cash

    • Toiletries

    • A small radio

    • Batteries

    • A phone charger (and/or power block)

  • Keep a first-aid kit and fire extinguisher handy.

  • Have emergency supplies on hand, including:

    • Water

    • Nonperishable foods

    • Medications

Working to understand what to do in an emergency — and when an emergency is occurring — is crucial to protecting yourself and others. Well-functioning emergency preparedness systems help keep everyone safe and ensure survival when the worst happens.

Are the safety systems in your facility up to date and functioning properly? For a thorough assessment or to upgrade your existing systems, call TRL Systems at (800) 266-1392 or email info@trlsystems.com.

Sy Granillo