Why evacuation process is important at the workspace?
Emergencies and disasters can strike your company when they are least expected. Nobody expects emergencies that affect their employees and the workplace itself. However, it is a basic fact that accidents and tragedies can happen to anybody, anywhere, at any time. During a workplace emergency, the first decision to be made is whether to stay inside or to leave the premises. In such cases, every employee needs to be evacuated from the workplace safe and sound. The evacuation must take place in a planned and calm environment. To avoid ruckus during evacuation there must be a detailed evacuation plan formed.
Need for an evacuation plan
The majority of workplaces prioritize crises that involve staying indoors, such as earthquakes or flood exercises or what to do when an armed person threatens, but they fall short when it comes to preparing for situations that call for an evacuation. Emergencies such as fire, explosion, or toxic gas release require an instantaneous evacuation. A carefully stated and regularly executed evacuation plan is the only method to guarantee that personnel leave the building safely and remain composed under pressure. There should be a head count and inspection of all staff following the implementation of evacuation plans, regardless of the technique used.
What does an evacuation plan include?
It’s a good idea to consider a wide range of potential situations that might arise in your workplace while creating your emergency evacuation plan. A customized plan is preferred for your workspace that contains details about various potential emergencies. Performing a hazard assessment is a necessary step in creating an emergency response plan since it will help you identify any physical or chemical risks at your workplace that might potentially result in an emergency. Some companies have various work sites in such cases each site should have a customized evacuation plan.
Chain of commands
The company needs a set of composed, level-headed leaders who can plan crucial activities and supervise a controlled evacuation. Workplaces typically need to fill four roles:
- Point of contact- This person has an important responsibility in hand which is to communicate with the respective emergency services. The person makes the decision when the evacuation process is to be executed. This decision is to be made by consulting the respected emergency services.
- Coordinator- After the evacuation process is declared this person has the responsibility of completing the safety checklist, which includes tasks such as double-checking offices, shutting off gas lines, checking bathrooms and every other room for anyone who is left out and they also attempt to secure the workplace as much as they can.
- Head counter- At the designated meeting place head counters make sure that everyone is present. If each department employs a head counter then they must submit reports to a single central authority. If the headcount does not match the list of employees they should inform the emergency service personnel as soon as possible.
- First Aid—Until emergency services arrive, burns, wounds, and other minor injuries can be treated with the supplies in a first aid kit. The team should have a few people who are familiar with basic first aid so that everyone may receive care. In addition to a basic first aid kit ensure that all relevant safety equipment is available. Ensure that all of the tools you need for safety and health are accessible and in working order. This might include protective gear like chemical suits, hoods, hard hats, safety shoes, goggles, face shields, safety glasses, or first aid kits.
It is required to have all these positions filled in an organization. In small workplaces, one can take up responsibilities of more than one role.
Employees cannot use an outdated evacuation plan that was created years ago and never used; frequent reminders and drills are necessary to ensure staff members retain the evacuation plan. A written plan is simple to practice because everyone is aware of their responsibilities and how they should act in an emergency. Free-form evacuations only lead to chaos and ruckus as employees start to panic. If the workplace has less than ten employees they can plan orally.
Emergencies that require immediate evacuation in a workplace:
- Fires
- Floods
- Toxic gas release
- Explosion
- Chemical spills
- Civil disturbances
Exit strategy for each of the possible crises needs to be formed and well-practiced with the employees with the help of drills and frequent reminders.
What is the role of an employee in an evacuation plan?
The finest emergency action plans involve employees in the planning process, give instructions for what to do in an emergency, and guarantee that staff members have received the necessary emergency training. Encourage your staff to provide ideas about potential dangers, worst-case situations, and appropriate emergency responses when you involve them in your planning. Once the plan has been created, go over it with your staff to ensure that everyone is aware of what to do in the event of an emergency.
Frequent route inspection
Hallways and unused spaces become storage areas for miscellaneous items. These small piles of things become larger over time and obstruct the exits that must be cleared to evacuate the building. Employees are required to move along their escape path calmly and deliberately under an evacuation plan. During such route inspection they can keep a note of blockages or restrictions of mobility, malfunctioning lights that need to be replaced, or a lack of first aid supplies at crucial intersections in the escape route.
Requirements from OSHA
All companies are required by OSHA, to maintain an emergency action plan, and the plan must contain comprehensive evacuation instructions. A written copy of the evacuation plan must be displayed where it can be seen by the workers in an emergency in any organization with more than 10 employees. A new plan will need to be written if the building’s design changes, new dangers are introduced, or there are significant staff changes.