07 May How Emergency Exit Plans Can Save Lives
Since adolescence many of us have been told “if a fire ever happens meet at the mailbox.” A meeting place in the event of a tragic event is necessary, but an exit plan is even more essential to ensuring everyone gets there safely. As an adult, it’s just as important to have a plan of exit at your place of work in case of an emergency.
Having an emergency or disaster exit plan is of no cost to the company, but could save lives. Without an exit plan, widespread panic can occur in the workplace as too many people head to one doorway. This results in injuries or even fatalities that could be avoided if everyone involved knew the best way to exit the building. This is one of the many reasons why exit plans are necessary for any business.
With that being said, these tips will help to ensure that your safety plan is functional.
- Divide and Conquer: Make sure that your employees know what doors to utilize in accordance to where they are located in the building. Having multiple exits that are checked for blockage regularly could give people the time and space they need to exit safely. Keeping clear exit signs above doors that lead outside is an incredibly effective way to direct people in the event of an emergency.
- Awareness: Practice your exit plan frequently. It may seem monotonous, but ensuring everyone has an expert understanding in what to do in an emergency situation is an essential component in caring for your employees livelihood.
- Coordinator: Make sure there is someone who is in charge of executing all the safety procedures. In an emergency, people tend to let panic overtake their right mind. When this happens, there needs to be someone in charge of ensuring everyone is out of the building and that gases and chemical outlets are secured.
- Point of Contact: Always have someone in charge of calling emergency services. Having one person everyone can report to about the situation keeps truthful information streamlined to emergency responders.
- Head Counter: Know who is working at all times so you can know who is unaccounted for. If someone is missing, alert emergency responders immediately so they can provide assistance.
- Meeting Place: Designate a place for everyone to meet so that you can have an accurate understanding of who is still inside and what type of medical attention everyone may need.
These are just a few highlights of the many ways you can plan and execute an effective safety plan for your business. Many do not make an exit plan until it is far too late. Do not be among the people who wish they had made an exit plan when they could’ve. Emergencies happen far too suddenly to not prepare for them.
