Does Your Cobb County Business Have an Evacuation Plan in Place | SERVPRO of East Cobb

5/18/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Cobb is here to help property managers and business owners when their commercial facility faces water, fire or other type of disaster.

If you own your own Cobb County business, you are likely very concerned with the best ways to protect your investment. Between insurance policies and contingency plans, there are a lot of safeguards in place to help business owners in the event that the unexpected happens—but when emergency strikes, have you considered how you will react in that moment?

Just as it is important to protect your business assets, it is also important to protect yourself and your staff in the event of an emergency, which is why you should be sure to have an evacuation plan in place. This way you and all of those who work on the premises will know exactly how to get to safety in the event of a fire, flood or other issue.

Read on for some key considerations to keep in mind as you develop this vital safety component.

Considerations for Your Business’ Emergency Plan

Make Sure All Exits Are Marked and Accessible

At a minimum, OSHA requires that all businesses have at least two emergency exits for employees and customers to use, and this number may be increased depending on factors such as your building’s size and layout. It is vital that you make sure that these emergency exits are marked clearly, and that the routes to escape are free from clutter or debris that may make an exit difficult.

Run Drills to Reinforce the Procedure

While going over the evacuation procedure with all employees is a good place to start, it is also wise to do regular drills to make sure everyone has a chance to practice what they have learned. Be sure you have a designated person mock calling 911 and a person who will do a headcount once everyone is out of the building. It is also a good idea to post the evacuation post the evacuation routes at several spots throughout the building in case there are visitors around that may be unfamiliar with the proper procedures.

Establish a Communications Plan

If your business is struck by an emergency, you will likely have many people you need to contact with information. The contact information for workers who were not on site, vendors and suppliers should all be included in your communications plan so you can keep everyone looped in on the situation and provide important updates to key stakeholders.

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile (ERP) will help ensure you and your business are "Ready for whatever happens."

In the event of an emergency, the SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile, can help minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action in place for your facility. The ERP is a comprehensive document containing critical information about your business, including: emergency contact Information, shut-off valve locations and priority areas. The ERP is also accessible online using your computer or tablet; download SERVPRO's free Ready Plan app to access this information at any time using your smartphone or tablet.

The ERP is a NO COST assessment, all it requires is a little time, making it a great value that could save a lot of time and money in the future. Call SERVPRO of East Cobb to establish your Emergency READY Profile today!

*If your Marietta or Kennesaw business is in need of help to recover from a disaster, you can count on SERVPRO of East Cobb! Contact us today at (770) 424-0400 or to learn more or report non-emergency damages to us 24/7 click here.