Big Picture - September 2018 - 14

business + management

When
Disaster Strikes
A well-thought-out natural disaster emergency plan could save your business in the
wake of catastrophe. | by Marty McGhie

urn on the news, and more often than not, there's

a breaking story of a natural disaster taking
place. As I watch the coverage - whether it be a
flood, earthquake, hurricane, tornado, wind, or
fire - I always selfishly, yet gratefully, think to
myself, "I'm sure glad that didn't happen to me, and I sure
hope it never does."
Even though the odds are against it, a natural disaster
could indeed involve me (or you!) at some point in time. Of
course, we all feel deep sympathy for those affected when
such an event does occur. But perhaps these tragic cases
should serve as a wake-up call for us. The way I see it, we
basically have two choices: One, we can just cross our fingers
and hope for the best, ignoring the need to prepare for such a
contingency. Or two, we can prepare in the best way possible.

BIG PICTURE

September 2018

YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET: PEOPLE
During any type of catastrophe, securing the safety of your
employees and any other personnel in your building is your
highest priority (next comes your facilities). The most effective
way to accomplish this is to have an evacuation plan in place
that directs your staff how to exit as quickly as possible. Quite
frankly, a well-developed plan will save lives.
When structuring your evacuation plan, make sure you
bring personnel from all levels of your organization to the
table; this could include a facilities manager, your safety
director, your human resources department, someone from
upper management, and others who may be able to offer
insight. As you develop the plan, consider multiple scenarios

MARTY MCGHIE is VP finance/operations of Ferrari Color, a digital
imaging center in Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Sacramento.
He is a partner and director of Signs.com. You can find him on
Twitter @Marty_McGhie.

and different types of disasters that could occur at your place
of business, and map out exit strategies accordingly. For
example, a fire in a specific part of your facility may very well
cut off an otherwise available escape route, which would then
require a different plan than an earthquake or a flood.
Considering various circumstances will help you create the
most effective program to get your employees to safety as
quickly as possible. Because there are always new staff
members being added to a business, make sure your evacuation plan is introduced in a practical way so they're comfortable and familiar with the requirements.
Practice makes perfect. Once developed, run through
the exit scenarios on a regular basis with your employees.
Initially, it's a good idea to train your personnel and hold
planned practice drills. But once that's completed, start
announcing drills at random times without giving any notice.
You will be surprised how quickly people can forget how to
execute your plan. Consistent practice will ensure that both
new and established employees are knowledgeable of the
proper procedures, and will help immensely if the need for a
quick exit ever arises.

http://www.Signs.com https://www.twitter.com/Marty_McGhie

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Picture - September 2018