Fortune Favors the Prepared

9/8/2020 (Permalink)

Prepare yourself and your employees by signing-up for First Aid and CPR training

Are You Prepared?

Every business owner in Ross, OH, should have a plan to stay in business in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Why? Business preparedness protects your hard-earned investment and improves the chances of uninterrupted operations during a crisis. Effective disaster preparedness comes down to common-sense measures that can help you manage an emergency and ensure your business' recovery from disruption. Here are some ideas:

Plan

Stay informed. Assess your business's risk against different potential disasters.
Determine which employees, resources, and equipment are essential to operations and survival.
Devise nonstandard ways to work with key customers and contractors during and after a disaster.
Develop alternate relationships with "just-in-case" suppliers. Avoid reliance on one vendor.
Formulate options if your workplace is inaccessible.
Plan for post-disaster recovery by collaborating with a local disaster response and restoration company.

People

Write a Crisis Communications Plan outlining fallback communications with employees, local authorities, customers, and suppliers.
Maintain a fully-stocked emergency supply kit, First Aid pack, and sanitation and "seal the room" provisions.
Encourage employees to bring in customized emergency kits.
Prepare yourself and your employees by signing-up for First Aid and CPR training.
Develop an evacuation plan, specifying a chain of command, assembly site, and emergency routes.
Create a shelter-in-place plan, to include protective "seal-the-room" measures.
Coordinate with collocated businesses to conduct joint emergency exercises.
Review business preparedness plans annually with employees.

Protect

Check your business insurance coverage, to include losses from physical damage or destruction.
Prepare for utility disruptions by considering back-up options.
Store extra supplies, materials, and equipment to ensure post-crisis business continuity.
Keep smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and emergency lights in good working order.
Store copies of business-critical documents and records in a water-proof, fire-proof container.

Disaster preparedness is an investment in your business' future. While no one wants to dwell on potential disaster scenarios, it's good business to remember that fortune favors the prepared.