Why You Need to Have a Facility Emergency Response Plan

Posted by Marcell Haywood on Aug 4, 2016 9:00:00 AM
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facility emergency response plan

It’s unavoidable. Emergency situations will arise.

They’re time consuming, stressful, and they often seem to happen at the worst possible moments.

Even though you can’t control if and when they occur, you can control how you deal with them.

One of the best ways to ensure you’re ready when an emergency does happen is to have a facility emergency response plan in place and a team on call. Having this additional support only a phone call away can help you feel less stressed. What’s more, you’ll rest easy knowing that the situation will be handled quickly and appropriately.

Whether your facility incurs damage from water, fire or a storm, facility emergency response providers like Encompass Onsite can clean and restore the damaged areas quickly and effectively. This allows you to get back to business as usual as soon as possible, minimizing lost productivity and revenue.

Water/Flooding

Did you know that in the United States, water damage is the second most frequent reason for an insurance claim and accounts for $11 billion in claims each year?

In order to prevent water damage from occurring, look for potential trouble spots including roofs, drainage systems, patios, parking decks, concrete structures, windows, and areas where materials join together. Ensure drainage systems are unobstructed, windows have proper sealant, and concrete isn’t cracking. Waterproof what you can, clean gutters and other drainage systems regularly, and seal concrete against water.

Should a water or flooding emergency arise, immediately contact your emergency response team, determine the type of water damage sustained (whether clean or contaminated water), and ensure all clean-up personnel are properly trained and informed of any potential hazards. 

Fire

Fire safety and compliance with the life safety code is another important priority at any facility. To mitigate as much risk as possible, ensure you have a fire safety program that outlines procedures for detection, containment and suppression.

Ensure you have working sprinklers and smoke detectors by testing them regularly. If a fire does occur, your sprinkler system should go off automatically and will limit the spread of the fire. According to Facilities Net, it’s estimated that 97% of all fires that occur in buildings with sprinklers are controlled or extinguished by them. 

Natural Disasters

Storm damage can occur from high winds, rain, objects falling onto buildings, and more. In order to be prepared, ensure your team members know their responsibilities and have a designated shelter location should a natural disaster occur.

Have enough emergency supplies (water, flashlights, first aid kits, etc.) to last you until an emergency response team can reach you. To reduce the amount of damage, ensure points of entry are secured, equipment is protected, and that you have emergency backup power.

Conclusion 

Whether there is a natural disaster, flood or fire, having a facility emergency response plan in place and a team on call can mitigate risks and get your facility back up and running quickly and efficiently.

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Topics: Facility Management, Safety

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