Friday, September 28, 2007

Train Employees For Disaster Preparedness

Train Employees For Hurricane Disaster Preparedness

Just came across this article about training employees for hurricane preparedness and thought it was really good. It’s so important to have employee disasters plans especially for those who must work through a hurricane disaster. When developing such a disaster plan it is vital that the plan also include how the employees are going to take the necessary time to prepare for a hurricane at their own home and how they will safe guard their loved ones during the crisis.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Are you or have you been in a hurricane disaster? Do you know someone who is recovering or has been affected by a hurricane in the past?

Please share your thoughts and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe!

Terrie

Dr. Terrie Modesto, Critical Incident Thanatologist

Web Site: www.trainforahurricane.com


Training for Disaster: Are your employees trained for a hurricane?

September 05, 2006

By David Barron
http://www.presentations.com/msg/content_display/training/e3iba76Bqzy2OvMsHS34K7MhQ==

A Category 5 hurricane is bearing down on your office. Most of your employees have not shown up for work, and the ones who have are anxious to get home and evacuate. You are in urgent need of getting your business ready for what could be a disaster of epic proportions, but don't know where to start or how to get everything done in time before the storm hits.

Is this your company? If so, you need to start planning now. Last year, we all learned that a major hurricane, even if it does not hit your city directly, can turn the entire area upside down. Companies dealt with unprecedented human resources issues during Rita, with employees scattered along evacuation routes or temporarily living in company offices. In the aftermath, we all learned valuable lessons that prudent companies will put to use in drafting a plan for dealing with the labor issues during the next hurricane. The key is adopting policies and procedures beforehand that will minimize confusion in a few key areas.

Requiring Employees to Work During A Hurricane

Every employee's first instinct in a hurricane will be to protect his or her family and property. However, each business must have a critical group of employees on the job during an emergency to protect the company's assets. Whether it is an IT manager charged with guarding the safety of the company's data, or a maintenance supervisor responsible for ensuring that dangerous chemicals don?t explode or leak, most businesses will need someone on the scene during a storm.

It is therefore important for each company to identify critical personnel and explain the expectations of them in the event of a hurricane. Texas law prohibits a company from retaliating against an employee who is absent from work because he or she obeys an evacuation order, unless the employee is providing emergency services or is "a person necessary to provide for the safety and well being of the general public." Know what the law is in your state.

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