You can never predict when an emergency

situation will arise at your workplace.

The only thing you can do is prepare.

The question is how do you know when

your workplace is prepared to handle an

emergency?

The modern workplace is safer than ever, but

it is still far from perfect.

According to government data, there were

over 5,500 fatalities in the workplace in 2007.

Even more concerning, at least 25% of these

fatalities occurred in “low risk” industries.

Workplace emergencies don’t

just harm employees either.

They can also damage a

business’ property and

reputation.

The best way to prevent this

kind of damage is to consider

what kind of emergencies your

business might face, and have a

response plan for each of them.

Some of the most common workplace

emergencies include:

• Earthquake, tornado, flooding, or

other natural disaster

• Industrial accidents

• Fire

• Equipment malfunction

Depending on your industry, consider

what types of emergencies are most

likely to occur, and have an emergency

response plan for each of them.

Some emergencies require different

levels of response. Different kinds of

emergencies may require responses

such as:

• Shutting down work stations

• Meeting in shelters or emergency

stations

• Medical response

• Evacuation

For every type of emergency response,

the company should have an approved

plan on how each one will be handled.

Employees should be made aware of the emergency plan for each type of emergency.

Management should make sure to verbally describe each emergency plan, and also provide

written descriptions. The company should also hold semi-regular disaster drills to test

employee readiness in case of emergency.

In order to make sure that emergency procedures are

followed, your company may want to appoint “safety

officers” responsible for supervising emergency

response and making sure employees follow proper

procedure.

Safety officers should check for things like:

• Equipment being shut down as needed

• Proper evacuation procedure being followed

(using emergency exits, no pushing or shoving,

using stairs and not elevators, etc.)

• Making sure injured get medical attention

These officers can be managers or supervisors, or be

recruited from the regular employees.

In addition to creating and practicing

emergency response plans, one of the best

ways to prepare for emergencies is to

make sure to always enforce proper work

safety measures. Make sure that

employees wear the necessary protective

gear and know how to safely perform their

jobs, and many workplace accidents and

emergencies can be prevented.

Depending on your industry, look for

protective clothing that features properties

like flame resistance or high visibility.

Prudential Overall Supply is a leading supplier of high-quality work uniforms, facility

supplies, and safety gear. Since 1932, Prudential has been at the forefront of promoting

safe business practices, a tradition that continues to this day.

Learn more at www.prudentialuniforms.com

• http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm#2007