| asters can happen any time and anywhere. Chemical | | | | Bolt tall bookcases or display cases to wall studs. |
| spillage from overturned trucks, power outages, | | | | Keep large objects secured on lower shelves to |
| brownouts or surges, windstorms, tornadoes and | | | | prevent fall and resulting injury. |
| earthquakes can affect your business adversely. | | | | Fasten breakable objects with hook and loop |
| Prepare your employees and clients to respond to | | | | fasteners on stands. |
| any possible disaster in advance by providing training | | | | Keep drawers and cabinets latched to prevent flying |
| and safety information. No business should operate | | | | open and spilling contents. |
| without a disaster plan or back up systems. Develop | | | | Secure framed pictures and mirrors to the wall with |
| risk or contingency management plans, while | | | | closed screw eyes. |
| considering human resources, physical resources and | | | | Install flexible connectors to appliances fuelled by |
| business continuity. | | | | natural gas. |
| Building a Plan | | | | Have shutters to close windows against severe |
| Keep phone lists of key employees and customers | | | | storms or hurricanes. |
| handy with copies of the same for key staff | | | | Install automatic fire sprinklers. |
| members. | | | | A Business Continuation Plan |
| Designate and provide one remote number on your | | | | A disaster plan for your business should aim to |
| office voice mail system to record messages for | | | | achieve the minimum dislocation and have the |
| employees. | | | | business up and running with a minimum loss of time |
| Have programmed call forwarding for main business | | | | and resources. Below is a list of some suggested |
| lines. If you cannot get to the office, call in and | | | | measures. |
| reprogram the phones to ring elsewhere. | | | | Appoint a second in command who has full authority |
| Install emergency lights that turn on in case of power | | | | to take decisions in your absence. |
| outage. | | | | All members of your team should be clear about their |
| Make sure the employees can leave the premises | | | | responsibilities. |
| without a key and do not get locked in. | | | | Have standbies for your main computer. Back-up |
| Use UL-listed surge protectors and battery back-up | | | | copies of data should be kept at a different site. |
| systems to protect sensitive equipment and help | | | | Critical paper records should be well protected. |
| prevent computer crashes due to power blackouts. | | | | Designate and train one staff member in each work |
| Keep NOAA Weather Radio with a tone alert feature | | | | shift as a safety coordinator. The safety coordinator |
| for early severe weather warning so protective | | | | should contact the owner and operator in times of |
| actions can be taken. | | | | emergency. |
| Stock a minimum supply of goods, material or | | | | Contact your local Red Cross Chapter to teach you |
| equipment for business continuity, even through | | | | preparation against disaster. |
| disaster. | | | | Being prepared at all times for an event that cannot |
| Protect valuable property and equipment with | | | | be predicted requires careful forethought and detailed |
| insurance. | | | | planning. You will reap handsome dividends if you map |
| In case of unexpected confinement at your business, | | | | out and implement a disaster recovery plan for your |
| keep emergency supplies like a first aid kit, tools, | | | | business. Do take all employees on board about the |
| flashlights, food and water to tide over the crisis. | | | | details of the plan and the various roles they are |
| Reducing Potential Damage to Property | | | | required to perform. Rehearsals or mock drills should |
| Prevent or reduce damage in your work area by | | | | also be carried out to test the efficacy of your plan. |
| taking a few precautions. | | | | |