The Tech Box

The Tech Box – August 2022


Climate Change-Driven Disasters Heighten Need to Enhance Emergency Action Plans

Climate change has helped drive a fivefold increase in the number of weather-related disasters in the last 50 years, according to the U.N. agency, the World Meteorological Organization. As weather-related disasters continue to grow, it’s also important to note that they are happening in areas of the country that weren’t affected in the past.

The above highlights the importance of not only ensuring your facility has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) but also that you’ve enhanced it to cover every possible disaster that could come your way.

An EAP aims to facilitate and organize employer and team member actions during workplace emergencies. Well-developed emergency plans and proper team member training will result in fewer and less severe team member injuries and less damage to your facility and equipment during emergencies.

Look at your existing EAP and begin conversations to identify and assess additional risks and threats. What are some of the changes you have noticed more recently that may get you to dive deeper into the safety and security of your employees and plant? Some topics to get you started could include:

  • What other natural disasters could impact your facility?
  • Are the evacuation policies and procedures still relevant?
  • How will you alert employees in an emergency?
  • How often do you provide training and drills for employees? Have employees been trained for all possible events?
  • Do you have an emergency response team outside the impact area to help employees secure your facility and navigate evacuation?

Be specific about your workplace operations and tailor all responses to fit the crisis.

Once you have enhanced your EAP, reviewing your business continuity plan is essential. The business continuity plan aims to minimize disruptions to your business once damages have occurred. The plan should identify critical operations and ensure you have another way to continue production and communications. Below are some specific things to consider:

  • Do you have a clear strategy for supply chain management? In other words, how will you keep up production or restore business operations during a natural disaster?
  • How will you manage internal and external communications with your customers and key stakeholders?

There is no such thing as being too prepared for a weather-related crisis. You can find more resources about general preparedness and response regarding natural disasters and weather at


OSHA


.gov.

Thanks,

Chase


Chase Kammerer is the Technical Services Manager at Fibre Box Association (FBA). If you have technical questions about the corrugated industry, you can reach him directly at


ckammerer@fibrebox.org


.