Disaster Planning
Post-Catastrophe Business Resumption, Community Safety Tips
The ASSE offers safety preparation tips, a disaster safety checklist and resources to assist businesses of all sizes before, during and after a disaster such as flooding, tornados and more.
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) (Des Plaines, IL) urges workplaces and communities to be prepared for the before and after of a catastrophic incident such as a tornado. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for business preparedness, but the ASSE, representing more than 33,000 occupational safety and health professionals from around the globe, offers the following safety preparation tips, a disaster safety checklist and resources to assist businesses of all sizes before, during and after a disaster such as flooding, tornados and more.
Do a Risk Assessment
This can range from self-assessment to an extensive engineering study. The specific industry, size and scope of your company determine your organization’s risk assessment needs. Know what kinds of emergencies might affect your company. Find out which natural disasters are most common in the areas where you operate at or learn what to do during a biological, chemical, explosive, nuclear or radiological attack.
Do Emergency Planning Now
Start planning to improve the likelihood that your company will survive and recover. Carefully assess how your company functions, both internally and externally, to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating; identify operations critical to survival and recovery; include emergency payroll, expedited financial decision-making and accounting systems to track and document costs in the event of a disaster; and establish procedures for succession of management. Include at least one person who is not at the company headquarters, if applicable. Homeland Security suggests that you identify your suppliers, shippers, resources and other businesses you must interact with on a daily basis and develop professional relationships with more than one company to use in case your primary contractor cannot service your needs.
Planning
Plan what you will do if your building, plant or store is not accessible and develop a continuity of operations plan that includes all facets of your business. For instance, determine if you can run the business from a different location or from your home and, develop relationships with other companies to use their facilities in case a disaster makes your location unusable.
Defining Procedures
Define crisis management procedures and individual responsibilities in advance and make sure those involved know what they are supposed to do, train others in case you need backup help and review your emergency plans annually. Just as your business changes over time, so do your preparedness needs.
Coordinating with Others
Meet with other businesses in your building or industrial complex; talk with first responders, emergency managers, community organizations and utility providers; plan with your suppliers, shippers and others you regularly do business with; share your plans and encourage other businesses to set in motion their own continuity planning and offer to help others.
Emergency Planning for Employees
Your employees and co-workers are a valuable asset. You need to know what people need to recover after a disaster. It is possible that your staff will need time to ensure the well being of their family members, but getting back to work is important to the personal recovery of people who have experienced disasters. It is important to re-establish routines, when possible.
Hazard Evaluation and Assessment
Following a disaster, it is recommended that all businesses should do a hazard evaluation and assessment performed by an occupational safety professional that includes the following.
Structural Security
Have the structural integrity of the building or facility validated by qualified professionals before anyone enters the facility.
Safe Entry
Contact the proper government agencies to get approval to resume occupancy of the building. Do not enter a facility or building unless the proper clearances have been attained.
Clean-up Safety
Implement your clean-up and business resumption processes in a safe and healthful manner. You will accomplish nothing if your employees are injured or killed during the post-disaster phase-in period. Provide training in the proper selection and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for your employees and yourself such as eyewear, gloves, boots and dust masks/respirators for cleaning, and where appropriate in other operations.
Air Quality Assessment
Make sure the atmosphere in the workplace environment is tested for asbestos and other chemical/toxic agents. Air quality is an issue businesses should pay careful attention to when restarting business operations.
Ventilation
Have vents checked to ensure that water heaters and gas furnaces are clear and operable. Dust and debris can stop or impede airflow decreasing its quality and healthfulness. Safely start-up heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which includes prior inspection of lines before energizing and pressurizing of the systems. Test your systems now after inspection or have a qualified specialist do so. Blow cold air through HVAC systems first, as opposed to warm air, as it will help prevent mold growth in duct systems.
Interior, Exterior Exposures
For interior spaces, ensure that no wall or ceiling materials are in danger of falling. If such exposures do exist, the work environment is not ready for occupancy. Check for cracked windows and outside building materials, as these could fall onto pedestrians at any time.
Protection Equipment
For fire and smoke alarms it is important to assure that these have been cleaned and tested before allowing occupancy of the building. If such systems are wired into other systems ensure that they are still compatible and work in an efficient and effective manner. Thorough inspection of fire-fighting systems, such as sprinkler and chemical equipment functions, is a must.
Electrical Safety
Have checks made of electrical systems, computer cables and telecommunications’ equipment to ensure that they are still safe and there is no danger of exposure to electricity. Wiring inspections should be conducted from the outside in to ensure that all wiring and connections are not in danger of shorting out due to water damage from rain or fire-fighting efforts.
Use Existing Federal Guidelines
Use existing start-up guidance materials provided by government agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Health/Sanitation Issues
The general facility sanitation systems with the facility should be inspected and tested to guard against potential employee exposure to toxic agents. Food sanitation should also be addressed. Any unused foodstuffs should be discarded. If the workspace has a kitchen, inspect oven hoods and other ventilation devices to ensure they are not clogged and are working efficiently.
Office Furniture
Inspect the furniture to ensure it can withstand expected loads and usages. Ensure that binder bins (storage devices screwed or bolted to railing systems on walls and panels) have not become unstable due to water damage or to shaking due to explosions. Inspect office equipment to ensure it is level, stable and cannot tip over.
Lighting
Make sure there are adequate illumination levels for employees. Emergency lighting should be checked to ensure it operates and functions in the correct manner.
Emergency Evacuation Planning
Ensure that there is a clear path of egress for the emergency evacuation of employees, that fire extinguishers are still operable and that checks for damage and serviceability are made to see if any fire extinguisher facilities were used during the disaster. If damage is found, they should be replaced immediately.
Solid/Hazardous Waste Removal
Broken glass, debris or other materials with sharp edges should be safely gathered and disposed of immediately. Ensure that such materials can be disposed of before collection to avoid creating even bigger hazards for both employees and the public. Solid waste disposal will be an issue, especially if hazardous waste is involved. Evaluate waste disposal issues prior to clean-up operations.
Power Checks
If there is no access to electricity on the site, do not use fueled generators or heaters indoors. Ensure that there are no gas or sewer leaks in your facility. You will need to check with your local utilities for information regarding power, gas, water, and sewer usage.
Check Mainframes
If your facility has mainframe computer applications, check lines and cabling for chiller systems to avoid chemical leak-out.
Emergency Procedures
Create a new emergency plan and distribute it to employees as soon as they return to work. In case of emergency, designate a place for employees to gather once out of the building or establish a phone number they should call following the emergency so that all can be accounted for. Frequently update the emergency contact list of names and phone numbers.
Machine Inspections
Inspect the condition of drain, fill, plumbing and hydraulic lines on processes and machines. Have plumbing lines evaluated and tested in order to detect any hazardous gases.
Surfaces
Make sure flooring surfaces are acceptable and free from possible slips, trips and falls. Falls are the second leading cause of on-the-job deaths in the U.S. and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics fatal work injuries involving falls were up 17 percent in 2004. ANSI standard A1264—Safety Requirements for Workplace Floor and Wall Openings, Stairs and Railing Systems—is a good starting point to help prevent falls.
The American Society of Safety Engineers represents more than 33,000 occupational safety and health professionals from around the globe. For more information, call (847) 699-2929, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.asse.org.
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