Does your company have an emergency checklist? If not, you need to create one. While one person in the workplace may be aware of what to do in an emergency, you can’t guarantee that everyone else knows the steps to take.
Many workplaces hold fire drills and ensure fire safety, which is essential. However, a fire isn’t the only thing that can go wrong while everyone is at work. What other emergencies could occur? What do you want your employees to do in these cases?
Identify the Potential Issues in Your Workplace
First, look at anything that is potentially dangerous in the workplace. Aside from fire hazards, you may have chemical hazards or sharp items that could cause cuts and lacerations. Take a walk around the workplace and write down each potential hazard.
Remember that not all emergencies will be obviously dangerous. However, you should also consider what to do if the electricity goes out, if the heating cuts off, or if the air conditioning fails. These may not seem like big issues, but over time, they can become very unpleasant. For example, your employees will not work well if they are very cold or overheated. These are things that will need to be identified and resolved.
Note Who to Contact in Each Situation
IF there’s a fire, you call the firefighters. However, if there is a power outage, you’ll need to contact the electrical company. Likewise, if your HVAC dies, you have to talk to the repair company. Make sure these contact numbers are included in your emergency checklist.
Detail Steps to Follow
What should you do if someone is cut or injured on a piece of machinery? Write out the steps to resolving the situation and getting medical help for the person. If necessary, you can talk to an expert who can help guide you through the hypothetical situation.
It’s also important to walk people through checking the boiler or the air conditioning system if it is broken. Everyone should see at a glance where the breakers are for everything and should be able to identify where each component can be found. This saves a lot of time in an emergency situation.
Create the List
The final step is making the list. Prioritize the medical emergencies and include the less dangerous situations further down on the list. You may wish to colour code them or to even place these things into the
Now make up your checklist and ensure it is readily available to your employees. This may mean hanging one in each station or ensuring everyone knows where to find it in a desk drawer.
Do you have an emergency contact for your heating or cooling system? Contact Mitchells for more information.