No one expects an emergency or disaster to happen, but as Facility Managers know all too well, they do. In fact, they can happen at any time, any day, and anywhere. Although some can be addressed quickly, minimizing if not eliminating any hazards, in far too many cases this is not possible. As a result, our only option is to address these situations in a way that ensures employees, building users, and the facility itself are safe and up and running as quickly as possible.
To be sure this happens, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has provided guidelines for FMs to follow.* Based on these guidelines, this post answers some of the most frequently asked questions regarding emergencies and emergency preparedness.
What is a workplace emergency?
A workplace emergency is an emergency that threatens building users in your facility; disrupts or shuts down building operations; or causes damage to the facility. This would include such things as floods, hurricanes, fires, toxic gas releases, workplace violence, chemical spills, and more.
How do FMs plan for an emergency?
Advanced planning is necessary, and planning should involve several stakeholders, including tenants, engineers, building owners, and Facility Managers. Stakeholders are also encouraged to think “outside the box.” Some of the worst emergencies, resulting in the most injuries to building users or to a facility, are the result of totally unexpected events. No matter what the emergency, the goal is to put together an emergency action plan that helps ensure everyone’s safety as well as that of the facility.
How do you put together an emergency action plan?
There is no one-size-fits-all emergency action plan. It must be prepared specifically for your facility, and typically it starts with a building risk assessment. Are there chemicals used in the facility that might ignite or explode? How old are building mechanicals? The older they are, the more risk they could cause an emergency. In most cases, a building assessment can be handled in-house by managers, staff, engineers, and of course, cleaning workers. Cleaning workers are invariably very familiar with the facility and may even mention hazards that were not under consideration.
What are the essential elements of an emergency action plan?
While we have already mentioned that the plan must be specific to your facility, some basics apply to most emergency action plans. These include the following:
• A way for building users to report fires or other emergencies quickly
• An emergency exit procedure based on floor plans, hallways, stairways, and other building features
• Tenant access to emergency contact information for FMs
• Staff instruction on how to use fire extinguishers
• Staff instruction on how to assist people who may need special assistance or are trapped somewhere in the building
• Staff safety training
• Instructions on how to turn off water, gas, and electricity in the facility
• Emergency medical supplies and training on how to use them; depending on the size of the facility, this may require installing many supply kits throughout the facility
When is it time to call for an evacuation of the entire building?
In an emergency, evacuating the building may not always be the right thing to do. FMs should leave this decision up to emergency personnel such as police and fire officials. However, if they do call for an evacuation, building users will expect FMs to know the fastest, safest, and most efficient ways to exit the building. Evacuation procedures are crucial to an effective building emergency plan.
For more information on handling all types of facility management issues, contact Ron here.
For more information, visit: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3088.pdf
