10 tips to help your business prepare for an emergency

As a business owner, you have a lot on your mind so it can be easy to overlook emergency procedures and push it off for another day. Most people believe that the worst won’t happen to them, but the reality is that it can. Are you and your staff prepared in the event of a fire or burglary? A strong plan can help prevent damage to your property, minimize injuries or even save lives.

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Don’t wait another day. Check out our tips below and work with your team to establish a plan for each ‘what if’ emergency scenario.

1. Know where the location of fire extinguishers and medical kits. While you’re at it, be sure to check your fire extinguishers regularly and replace medical supplies as they are used.
2. Create a map of your business and clearly mark emergency exits and routes. Make sure that they are clearly legible and that all employees are familiar with the exits.
3. Designate an emergency meeting point where staff will gather in the event of an emergency. If an employee or customer needs assistance, someone should be prepared to help them out of the building. Be sure to take a ‘role call’ to ensure that everyone has made it out of the building safely.
4. NEVER block exits, doorways, hallways or stairwells. While fire doors should be kept closed to help slow the spread of smoke and flames, they should never be locked.
5. Have an emergency kit in an easy-to-access area and update it regularly. In the event of an emergency, designate someone to grab this kit before they leave the building. It should include emergency medical supplies, water, nonperishable food, and emergency contact numbers for all staff.
6. Consider creating a small emergency kit for each staff member that can be kept in their desk drawer. Kits may include a list of emergency contact numbers, a small flashlight, water, nonperishable food, and walking shoes.
7. Take the time to properly mount hanging items, large bookcases, and other furniture. In the event of an earthquake or explosion, properly-anchored items will help prevent injury.
8. Create a plan in the event of an intrusion or burglary and regularly review it with all staff. In the event that an intrusion should occur, a well-formed plan can help prevent panic and reduce injury and loss of life.
9. Employees should be familiar with your commercial security system. Most alarm panels are equipped with emergency buttons, but those are only useful if staff know how to use them. Just be sure that you don’t reveal more than is necessary about sensor and camera locations, or how the system is wired.
10. Regularly backup important data. Whether you use an on-site system, online cloud-based system or other methods, backing up essential information can mean the difference between recovering after an emergency or the end of your business altogether.

Today’s commercial security systems offer a lot more than CCTV and burglar alarms, so be sure that your business’s security system is up-to-date and functioning properly. If you have questions about your business’s security system, give the team at Best Security Okanagan a call and schedule a no-obligation consultation.

Posted in Commercial Security