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University of Washington › Facilities Services › UW Emergency Management
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Employee Preparedness

Employee Preparedness

Employee preparedness is the single most important effort that a business owner can undertake to ensure the business will survive a disaster and recover. Without employees, there is no business. Those employees who work for employers who have taken the time to help them prepare themselves and their family are more likely to be effective during a disaster and the recovery phase. Encourage them to have a plan, make a kit and get informed on the realities of disaster.

Some ways to protect and train your employees:

  • Compile a list of all employees who are trained in first-aid, CPR and AED’s. Keep this list in a general location, like the reception desk.
  • Encourage your employees to have a family communication plan. An out of area contact is essential for them to maintain communications with their family if local telephone lines and cell networks are down.
  • Help each employee have a 72-hour kit at work. Additionally, they should have one in their vehicle and at home. [ UWEM Family Preparedness ]
  • Employees should also prepare financially. Employees who save 10% of each paycheck can help build a small “disaster fund” for themselves. Keeping critical tax records and important insurance papers, birth certificates, etc in a portable container safe place (Go Kit) where they can grabbed on the way out the door is a good idea, too.
  • Encourage employees to take advantage of emergency and disaster skills training like first aid, CPR and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. Many of these classes are very affordable or even free.
  • Conduct drills semi-annually for evacuation. Contact your local fire department for ideas and assistance.
  • Invite speakers to your company to present on subjects of preparedness. Some good sources of speakers are your local office of emergency management, fire department and the American Red Cross. Short, 1-hour “brown-bag” lunch presentations are popular and do not disrupt the work day.
  • Encourage employees to participate in community volunteer activities that teach emergency and disaster skills, such as Search and Rescue, the local CERT team or the American Red Cross. The volunteer efforts of your employees will reflect favorably on you as the employer as well.