The key to safety and emergency preparedness is making sure your plans are current and concise, and that you deliver your plans in the format your staff prefers.

By Scott Cohen

Emergencies can occur when you least expect it. Keeping on top of your emergency response plan (ERP) can help to alleviate some of the concerns that come after an event may occur. Following these steps below will boost your emergency preparedness.

#1: Condense It

If your ERP is 100 pages, pull the critical information so it can be used in a real-life emergency.

#2: Do Not Rely on the Internet

Apps can be stored locally on mobile devices so if the Internet goes down, your emergency response plan will still be available.

#3: Have a Paper Back-Up

The very thing that limits paper—its lack of technology—makes it an essential layer or emergency preparedness. During Hurricane Sandy, the CEO of Sloan Kettering used an emergency guidebook.

#4: BOTA (Beware of the Acronym)

The last thing you want during an emergency is your staff thinking EAP stands for Employee Assistance Program instead of Emergency Action Plan.

#5: Boost OSHA Compliance

Ninety-nine percent of emergency response plans fail to meet some of OSHA’s most basic requirements.

#6: Improve Your Maps

The goal is for someone to be able to read your maps even if the room is smoky and they are not wearing their glasses. It usually helps to double the size of AED locations, stairwells, gates, key street names, etc.

#7: Use Bullets

In novels, dialogue is effective because it creates soothing white space. Bullets will do the same for your emergency response plan.

#8: Include the Area Code in All Phone Numbers

If someone is from out of town they may not know your area code.

#9: Your Content Should Flow Intuitively

Bomb Threat Checklist should follow Suspicious Package. Hurricane should be next to Earthquake, Tornado, etc.

#10: Distribute Your ERP in the Format Your Staff Prefers

Your younger employees will probably want your plan as an app. Your older employees will likely prefer quick-reference guidebooks. If you give it to them both ways, they will be more likely to engage it and remember it.

Whether it is quick-reference guidebooks or an emergency response app (or both), the key to safety and emergency preparedness is making sure your plans are current and concise, and that you deliver your plans in the format your staff prefers.

 Scott Cohen is Vice President for Wellspring (Montclair, NJ). He can be reached at (800) 268-3682, ext. 118, via e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.WellspringInfo.com.

*Terms & Conditions of Wellspring Info’s suggestions: Wellspring Info does not represent or warrant that their advice will meet your or any other requirements. You agree to indemnify Wellspring Info, Inc. against any and all claims, liability, losses, damages, costs and expenses.

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