Guide to Working with Your Local 1st Responders
Getting to know your local first responders before an emergency happens is good business. Use the following checklist to help plan your interaction with them.
Preparedness Planning for People with Disabilities
Regulations covering the rights of people with disabilities or access and functional needs continue to evolve. Please check local, provincial, and federal ordinances to ensure that your organization complies with rules regarding building entrances and exits, evacuation planning, signage, and safety equipment.
Alarms and Notifications Checklist
In an emergency, being able to deliver a message quickly and clearly to your staff and visitors can prevent injuries and save lives. Use the following checklist to evaluate and improve your onsite notification system.
Preparing for a Supply Chain Disruption
Every organization is dependent on business partners for some products and services such as gas, electricity, water, food, etc., or needed materials.
Vital Records Classification Checklist
Use this form to organize all significant records rated Critical or Vital at minimum. Subsets of this information can be included with other records.
Forming an Emergency Response Team
This video highlights the use and concepts behind doing an HVA. Point to the tool in the Resource Center and urge its use. #13 An emergency response team (ERT) has been formed to help implement the emergency response plan.
Supporting Special Needs Populations
This video discusses being sensitive to various special needs populations and mention that the local fire department can help with this issue. The Americans with Disabilities Act may also provide guidance. #17 Arrangements are in place to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities during an emergency.
Video: Communicating During a Crisis
This video discusses some examples of how an alert and notification system doesn't have to be expensive. A whistle or boat 'fog horn' can do the job. The key is to make sure that the technique covers every part of the facility. #18 There is a procedure for alerting those onsite to a disruption during normal work hours.
Recruiting Safety Wardens
This video explains the general role of a Safety Warden and that they are part of the ERT. Discuss some of their responsibilities and the need for ongoing training. #16 Volunteers (i.e., Safety Wardens) have been recruited to work with the emergency response team during a crisis.
Keeping Emergency Contact Information Current
This video explains how call trees and online tracking of numbers get out-of-date easily. People move, change names (e.g., marriage), change telephone companies and email addresses - so organizations must stay current on contact information. Also mention the 'out of town relative' number (sometimes called the grandma number). #21 Emergency contact information (staff, clients, key vendors, utilities, etc.) is updated at least annually.
