Steps to Making Your Kingston Business Workplace Safety Drill Actually Work

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

A well thought-out emergency plan is key for any business owner. You can never be too prepared when an emergency strikes your business!

If you are a manager or a business owner in Ulster County, you understand how important it is to keep your workplace free of hazards and your employees safe from harm during their work day. But have you considered what would happen in an emergency?

Because of how negatively a disaster can impact a small business, it is important to create a plan for what to do should an emergency occur. Creating a plan that accounts for multiple possibilities, gathering honest feedback and then using that to improve are all important components to creating with a fool-proof plan.

Here’s how business owners can begin creating a solid workplace safety drill:

1.    Plan Your Drill

To create a properly executed drill, it is important to plan it thoroughly and well in advance to ensure it is as effective as possible. Be sure to plan for every scenario that could put your staff in harms’ way, such as fires, storm damage, power outages or any other emergency that could be specific to your industry. Prepare for specific points such as:

• Determining a meeting point outside of and away from the building
• Designating someone to perform a headcount and ensure that everyone in the building participates
• How to perform any emergency shutdown procedures, like as turning off machinery before exiting the building
• Understanding and able to handle software backup and important document handling

It’s also important to schedule drills at various times if you have personnel who work a variety of hours so everyone is able to experience them and provide critical feedback no matter the time of day.

2.    Determine Where to Improve

After performing safety drills, the most important thing to do is take note of where improvements could be made. Even things that seem small can make a big difference in an emergency scenario, such as more lighting or better signage. Solicit feedback from employees on how the drill could improve to get further ideas.

3.    Make Changes and Repeat

As you continue to make improvements and run drills, it is important to note how more recent drills compare with earlier ones. Technology upgrades, building infrastructure changes, employee turnover, and even small changes are important to note for yearly improvements or revisions. Tracking the improvements that are made and the outcome of each round is a great way to ensure that drills are as efficient as they can be, that way everyone will stay safe should a real emergency occur.

If you’ve had an emergency occur at your business, we’re here for you! As experts in commercial damage restoration, SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz can handle fire, water or storm damage from any disaster. Here to help 24/7 with an emergency response!