Review your Emergency Response Plan

It can be hard to know when an emergency will happen. Emotions and stress levels are heightened,

impacting our reasoning abilities. How do we stay safe and know what to do in emergency situations?

The answer is simple: practice. Just like any skill or ability, practice is key. The more we practice evacuations, the better prepared our workplaces will be in an actual emergency.

By holding evacuation drills, we can identify gaps in our current emergency response plans. If chaos ensues during your practice evacuation, learn from what went wrong. If emergency instructions were muddled and unclear, clarify them. If previous evacuation routes are not accessible due to renovations or changes in the workplace, ensure new or temporary routes are identified and communicate these changes with your staff. Since we can’t reasonably predict when an emergency will happen, ensure updates and communication take place right away after your practice drill.

By practicing emergency drills, you also find out if your training and communication have been effective. This is a form of evaluation, the fourth step in the R.A.C.E. process (R.A.C.E. stand for recognize, assess, control, and evaluate hazard controls). If staff are wandering around aimlessly during a drill, this is a sign you need to revisit your training and practice more evacuation drills.

Additionally, if you have appointed floor or department wardens who assist in the evacuation process, ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and tools (if applicable) to do their jobs. For example, if your policy states that wardens are to wear high-visibility gear and have an attendance checklist for employees, contractors, and visitors, ensure these are provided and available. Remember to keep them current. We know our workplaces change all the time, so ensure you update your checklists for emergencies. Don’t forget to account for vacations, sick leaves, and alternating shifts, again if applicable. Who will cover these roles if the appointed person is away? How will they know to take over? Remember that evacuation drills aren’t just for fire drills. Review your Emergency Response policy and your hazard assessment to be prepared for the possible evacuation types you may experience in your workplace.

For example, you may have an active attacker drill, a medical emergency drill, a shelter-in-place drill, etc.

Consider scheduling each type of drill you may have in your workplace when you set up your program for the year. This is also a great chance to see how your evacuation may be affected by seasonal hazards such as temperature extremes, bugs, wildlife, and weather.

Be prepared for an emergency tomorrow by practicing today.