Is your business prepared for emergencies in the workplace? As vaccination rates increase and your business reopens, and customers and employees return to stores, offices, and workplaces, it may be time to update your emergency plans and agreements. Here are some ideas to help you plan for emergencies at work, whether it’s COVID exposure, fire, flooding, chemical spills, or blackouts.

How can employers prepare for emergencies at work?

To prepare for an emergency at work, you first need an emergency action plan. This plan can help you document your business’s emergency procedures so that your employees can plan ahead. It covers evacuation plans, emergency contact information, fire extinguisher policies, etc. Whether required by law or not, it is best to keep a written plan and keep it updated.

Your emergency plan should also include Business contingency planThis document outlines the steps required to ensure that your business can continue operations after a disaster, even if the facility remains inaccessible or personnel cannot perform its work.

Once you have a plan, make sure your employees know where it is and what it contains. Training and practice will help everyone know what to do in an emergency. Review your plan regularly to ensure that everyone understands the policies and procedures contained in it.

What are some examples of workplace emergencies?

Many types of emergencies can occur in the workplace. The three main types are:

natural disaster

Natural disasters, including storms, floods, earthquakes, and fires, can cause serious problems for your team. These are the hardest emergency situations to plan because they often happen without warning. Your preparation plan needs to take this into consideration so that you can act quickly in the event of an emergency.

Occupational hazards

Accidents, chemical spills, mechanical problems, technical interruptions, gas leaks, explosions and other accidents often occur in the workplace. These are business-specific and will depend on the type of work you perform, so please evaluate your needs and set your plan accordingly.

Civil emergency

Civil emergencies stem from state activities or unrest, such as workers’ strikes or protests. If violence occurs and workers must evacuate or make special plans for safety reasons, some recent shutdowns and protests related to the coronavirus may be considered such emergencies.

How to develop an emergency action plan for my business?

One Emergency action plan Ask your company to analyze the risks you face in daily operations. This includes the risks of natural disasters and business-related emergencies. Then, you must outline how you want your business and employees to handle emergencies. Finally, you need to produce an easy-to-follow document outlining these procedures.

State or federal laws may sometimes specify steps to be taken in an emergency. You may need to consult a commercial lawyer when developing an emergency action plan. Rocket Lawyer On Call® Can answer your question. You can contact the lawyer directly from the file you created.

How often should I update my workplace emergency action plan?

The corporate emergency plan should be reviewed annually. They may not require annual updates, but regular reviews can ensure that they meet your changing business needs. If you find errors or missing policies or information, you can update or modify the plan. As the needs and responsibilities of companies continue to change, these files are fluid.

Emergency situations will happen. The coronavirus shows us that accidents can have long-term consequences. Business owners and office managers are responsible for ensuring that plans are made to ensure that the business flourishes, even in emergencies.

This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law firm, nor is it a substitute for a lawyer or a law firm. The law is complex and changes frequently.For legal advice, please Ask a lawyer.