Office Safety Checklist – Be Ready
Disasters strike every day and they strike QUICKLY! People don't plan to participate in a disaster. Unfortunately, many don't prepare to avoid consequences either.
Yesterday we started a series on being prepared. Today I'm going to share an office safety checklist as well as some awesome web sites.
Here is a quick list that you can reference to make sure that you have your office ready for any emergency! Here is a list from the University of Illinois Extension:
- Smoke detector
- Carbon monoxide detector (if gas is used for heating, hot water and/or cooking)
- Weather radio
- Fire extinguishers checked and locations noted
- Exits marked
- Maps from meeting spaces to exits and tornado safe areas
- Tornado/storm shelters marked
- First aid kits complete and location(s) noted
- Locate gas shut off valve
- Have flexible gas line to furnace and hot water heater
- Locate water shut off
- Doors locked and windows secure
- Pull blinds at night or otherwise cover glass
- Make sure your doors open out
- Invite fire/police for voluntary check – they can find things that you won't think of
- Snow and ice removed from walkways
- Sufficient external lighting
- Emergency numbers posted with all phones (this is even more important if your emergency number are different from 9-1-1
- Keep utility phone numbers handy
- Heavy shelving and equipment bolted to the walls
- Flammable material properly stored
- Refrigerator/stove clean
- Hand and equipment sanitizers available
- Emergency contact numbers posted on entrance
- All staff carries staff emergency contact list
- Have at least one hard-wired phone
- Computers and phone terminals on a back up power source (ups)
- Keep only small amounts of cash on hand
- Do not make deposits after dark
- Foster relationships with local emergency management officials
- If flooding/water leaks a recurring problem, install a sensor and alarm
As my dad says, “Hope is NOT a Plan! Be Prepared!” So, here are some great web sites that have slews of information for business preparation and personal preparation.
- FEMA – http://www.fema.gov
- IMEA – http://www.state.il.us/imea
- Ready Business – http://www.ready.gov
- Homeland Security – http://www.dhs.gov
- National Weather Service – http://www.crh.noaa.gov
- American Red Cross – http://www.redcross.org
To your success!
