Workplace Drills during an Emergency

10/22/2019 (Permalink)

Practice safety drills in your work enivironment in the event of an emergency to be prepared in the event of a real emergency.

Unexpected events such as fires, storms, or floods can cause panic and chaos within a workplace.  Conducting drills will help employees learn what to do when a disaster strikes.  Having a plan and practicing that plan will ensure that your business is ready for any emergency. Here are 3 tips to help make sure your emergency drills are as effective as possible.

1. Conduct Emergency Drills Regularly

The number of drills your company needs to conduct can vary based on the following factors:

• Employee turnover rates
• Employee schedules
• Workplace risk factors
• State laws
• Local municipality laws or codes
• Industry-Specific guidelines

2. Keep the Drill Unpredictable

Planned drills, while still helpful, are not nearly as effective as an unscheduled drill.  Regular unannounced drills will keep employees on their toes.  With this approach, workers are more likely to find the best and safest building exits during a real-life disaster.

3. Evaluate Each Drill

It is important to conduct regular drills, but it is also important to have post-drill evaluations.  Make sure to look at what worked and where the problem areas are.  Make sure to ask employees for their feedback.