What is an Emergency Response Plan and Why does your Business Need It?
Is your business ready to handle an emergency? If No, it’s time you Take Action!
The reality is that – Emergencies and disasters can strike anyone at any time. This includes your workplace too. When a disaster (both man-made and natural) or an accident occurs at your workplace, it brings with it plenty of injuries and illnesses in its wake. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your workers are equipped to handle an emergency when its least expected. This calls for proper planning and methods to provide the best response during a crisis.
Here, in today’s post, we shed light on the benefits of an emergency response plan and help you get started on preparing one for your workplace.
What is a workplace emergency?
An emergency at the workplace is a situation that endangers your employees, customers or the public. It disrupts and shuts-down routine operations. It can also cause physical damages to your property as well as the environment.
Emergencies can either be man-made or natural, and includes all disasters like earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, chemical spills, the release of biological agents, disease outbreaks, explosions, burglaries, break-ins and several other types of hazards.
Why the need for an Emergency Response Plan?
A few seconds is all that it takes for an emergency to escalate. With an emergency plan, you get a huge advantage. Instead, of trying to figure out the best protocols to undertake during a disaster or accident, the emergency response plan has specific instructions on what you can do, at these critical moments.
While planning a response plan, safety experts usually anticipate a majority of these emergencies and prepare for handling them. Additionally, the response plan also includes instructions on how to handle other unpredictable situations.
Whether you’re creating an emergency response plan due to regulatory requirements or to fulfill corporate policies, a thorough plan that is widely accessible can maximize response efficiencies while minimizing impacts on employees, property and the environment.
Five components of an Emergency Response Plan
- Prevent – Stop, avoid or prevent an actual or imminent threat.
- Protect – Protect employees, clients, visitors, public, assets, and infrastructure from threats and hazards.
- Mitigate – Reduce the loss of life and assets, by reducing threats, risks, and
- Respond – Respond quickly and efficiently to save lives, safeguard property and to provide assistance to employees during the aftermath of a catastrophic incident.
- Recover – Focus on timely restoration and revitalization of infrastructure to continue operations as early as possible.
Several companies today operate at multiple locations. While having an enterprise-wide template is acceptable, streamlining individual response plans with each location’s specific requirements is a must.
Key Benefits of an Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
- It guarantees continued survival
Your business doesn’t end with an emergency. It has to go on, overcoming any hurdle that comes along the way. An ERP helps you do that. A well-thought-out plan enables you to cope with any unexpected emergencies and recover as early as possible.
- Helps your business gain an edge in the market
Having an ERP gives you an advantage over your competitors. With an ERP, you’re subconsciously sending the message that your business is equipped to deliver, irrespective of what comes its way. This builds trust among your customers and investors, thereby helping you race ahead of your peers.
- You set the right Recovery Priorities
When a patient is on the operating table, the surgeon has a list of priorities in order like maintaining blood and oxygen supply to the vital organs and then the rest. There’s no room for doubt.
Similarly, with an ERP, you have a defined list of priorities to carry out during an emergency like – protecting and recovering vital assets, maintaining cash flow, opening communication channels and much more.
An ERP helps you list out which parts of your business matter the most and specify the order of recovery.
- Boosts Staff Morale
Your employees are likely to trust you when they are aware of the steps you have taken to protect them during an emergency. They remain loyal to your company and put in their best efforts.
- Improves Communication
During an emergency, the key to minimizing losses depends majorly on clear and open communication channels. With an ERP, you can get guidance on how to communicate with your customers, when your business remains shut down for a few days due to a hurricane.
With excellent communication to your employees and clients, you improve the chances of your business getting back on its feet, quickly after an emergency.
- You can enjoy lower insurance premiums
All businesses, irrespective of the size or industry, require insurance. One major drawback of coverage is the high premium costs. With a comprehensive ERP, you can reduce your premium amounts significantly. This is because the insurance company considers the ERP as a testimony to your commitment to managing risks and disasters.
- It increases the value of your business
The value of any business depends a lot on its ability to thrive, even during and after disasters. With an excellent ERP, you improve your business’ value, thereby increasing opportunities for reliable investments. This helps when you’re trying to raise capital or avail a loan.
- Above all, it provides you with peace of mind
All business owners are always worried about the safety and security of their business. With an ERP, you can put an end to sleepless nights worrying about what happens to your business in the case of an emergency or disaster. You can breathe easy knowing that you’ve done all in your power to protect and continue your business, even during and after an accident.
Final Thoughts
Just like you don’t jump into a pool, thinking that you can master swimming on the fly, it doesn’t make sense to run a business without an emergency response plan. Also, remember that an ERP is a living document and needs to be frequently updated with revisions and changes.
For all your queries regarding an ERP or expert assistance in preparing a customized ERP plan for your business, get in touch with our safety experts here at Totalika by giving us a call @ +91-124-661-3137/+91-124-266-3021.
