disaster preparedness

business

Stay in business: plan ahead for emergencies

You put a lot of work into your business, and day-to-day tasks of running your own company are challenging enough. What happens if disaster strikes? Are you ready? Will your business survive?

Allied can help protect your business by showing you ways to reduce your controllable risks. We can also help you better plan for emergencies and support your business as you recover from a disaster.

Disaster planning: first, get your ideas in writing

Emergency action plans are so important for businesses that OSHA requires them. If you already have one, now's a great time to update it and share it with your employees.

For all employers, required elements include:

• Explanation of evacuation procedures
• Overview of your warning or alert systems
• Maps of escape routes
• Methods for accounting for everyone after evacuation
• Designation of special rescue responsibilities
• Procedures for determining medical duties
• Evidence of training in the various types of emergencies that may arise

No matter how good a plan looks on paper, the keys to making sure it actually works when it matters are communication and training, so be sure to spread the word.

Disaster recovery: next, customize your plan for success

Even with great planning, disaster can strike. Uncontrollable weather and human imperfections work together to prove that you can't shield your business from every catastrophe. That's where having a recovery strategy becomes important.

Design a plan specifically for your business. A basic plan might not answer enough questions during your next emergency.

You'll be glad you spent the extra time, if you ever have to:

• Tell an associate's husband that her work-related injury required a trip to the hospital
  
• Search for undamaged inventory or dispose of debris following a tornado
  
• Explain to a local news crew what is happening
  
• Meet with an inspector because of a safety violation
  
• Assign duties to other employees because your key personnel are stuck in a snowstorm
  
• Find another way to communicate during a blackout

Need more help with disaster planning?

Contact your local, independent Allied agent for a complete business disaster plan consultation and make sure your business is a survivor.