Building a Solid Evacuation Plan for Your Downtown Charleston Business | SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Here are some helpful tips we’ve put together to help you build a solid emergency plan. Contact SERVPRO® of Downtown Charleston to learn more.

Every business needs an evacuation plan in case of a fire or another disaster. In many cases, OSHA requires it and even publishes their own standards to check your emergency plans against.

Plus, it’s a good way to ensure both your employees and your customers are safe if something unexpected happens. (And, considering everything that happened in 2020 with the pandemic, planning for the unexpected now certainly seems wise.)

We’ve put together some tips to help you build a solid evacuation and emergency plan if your business should need it. We’ve worked in the disaster restoration and recovery business for years, so our team understands how these processes can work.

Things to Consider

We use the term “emergency” or “evacuation” plan, but it should be more than one plan in reality. Here’s why:

Some disasters require you to shelter in place. In the event of a fire, of course, you’ll want to have the routes out of the building posted and employees trained to help with the process. But in other cases, sheltering in place is the right call. That usually is the best option if a severe storm or tornado has been spotted in the area. So, you’ll want to have a plan in mind that covers all types of disaster scenarios.

Your employees’ roles can change. You’ll want to talk with your employees about head counts, evacuation routes and their role in leading people out. You may also want to establish a set meeting place to ensure that everyone you know is in the building has gotten out. Or if they haven’t, how many people first responders should be looking for inside the building.

Some special equipment may be required. Depending on your business and the type of disaster you’re dealing with, respirators and other equipment may be required.

If your business is damaged due to fire, water or any other cause, you can always count on us for restoration assistance. We have crews who are available ²⁴⁄₇ in the event of an emergency. Contact us at any time to learn more about our restoration services.