Emergency Preparedness
In light of the recent Southern California fires, the following resources are offered to help you review, update, and improve your EMERGENCY PLANS, so you can rest assured that you’ve done everything in your power to protect your organization, your staff, and your clients against unforeseen events. If your organization carries Commercial General Liability and/or Property insurance, you’ve most certainly been asked to implement some type of emergency preparedness plan…right? Are you sure? Do you know where it is, and what the plan is?
It’s a good time to relay the importance of preparedness to your staff and volunteers. I suggest the following plan of action:
1) Get out the ol’ plan, and review it for accuracy. Update the plan if necessary. If you’re unsure about the effectiveness of your plan, check out these resources:
- Sample Emergency Action Plan — in compliance with USA OSHA standards
- Emergency Evacuation Strategy from the Nonprofit Risk Management Center w/ checklist
2) Conduct a compliancy check…Test all fire alarms, re-post updated escape routes, clearly mark and provide lighting to emergency exits, ensure all exits are easily accessible at all times. (Could everyone make their way through dark, smoke-filled hallways and warehouses?)
3) Train your staff and volunteers. It would be a good idea to:
- Include emergency preparedness in your initial Staff and Volunteer Training
- Conduct annual emergency preparedness training sessions with all staff / volunteers
- Review your staff/volunteer knowledge periodically, perhaps during their written review period… (Include a brief questionnaire testing their knowledge of the emergency plan).
4) Practice your plan! At least once a month, conduct fire & earthquake drills, giving staff the opportunity to walk through the plan. If disaster should ever strike, your staff will be calm and prepared.
If you have any questions about your insurance coverage, please contact us...Until then, BE PREPARED, and BE SAFE!
Schweickert & Company
15 Peters Canyon Road
Irvine, CA 92606
Direct Phone/Fax: 714-689-1772
Email: Laura@schweickert.com
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