National Preparedness Month is an ideal time to assess your company’s practices and programs and take steps to keep operations better protected.
September is National Preparedness Month, an annual initiative by Ready.gov and FEMA to help individuals and businesses alike evaluate how prepared they are for disaster situations — and take steps to remain at the ready. Although adequate preparation is important for everyone, National Preparedness Month’s placement at the height of Atlantic hurricane season makes it particularly relevant to those in areas regularly impacted by wild weather.
At BCH, our risk management professionals believe even seemingly simple efforts to remain better informed now can help keep losses to a minimum and aid recovery efforts. (And that doesn’t just apply to natural disaster scenarios.) Here, we’ve pulled together advice to help you bring your disaster plan into sharper focus, remain better protected both at business and at home — and know which steps to take should the unexpected occur.
Review Your Company’s Disaster Plan
Panic sets in when disaster strikes. Having a quality disaster plan in place, and ensuring your team is well-versed in its intricacies, is the best way to keep things running smoothly amid uncertainty. Ask your leadership or safety team to evaluate your company’s written emergency procedures and make any necessary changes. If you don’t have official procedures in place, now is the time to create them.
Once you’re certain your disaster plan is where it should be, pull the team together for a toolbox talk of sorts. During this session, discuss everything from where your fire extinguishers are located, to how to handle evacuation orders and what is expected of employees if your office is temporarily closed. Our Employee Emergency Preparedness Survey can help you gauge how ready your team members are to handle a range of emergency situations — and can help improve your training efforts, as well. BCH Tip: Our risk reduction blog post offers additional guidance surrounding the development of your disaster response plan
Encourage Team Members to Evaluate Their Situation at Home
Your team’s safety and security are of utmost importance, and not just when they’re on the job. Remind them to take steps to prepare their homes and families against losses due to hurricanes and the like. Do they have proper food and supplies at the ready, just in case? Do they have a plan for where they’ll go if adverse weather makes their current standings unsafe? Do they know how they’ll communicate with loved ones and team leadership amid the event? Our Home Emergency Kit Overview offers advice to get them started. Download your copy and share it with the team.
Consider Other Important Aspects of Business Risk Management
While you have preparedness on the mind, consider other areas of business risk management you might be able to address now to keep operations safer and more successful over the long term. Although specific measures will vary based on your industry and operations, common examples include:
- Needed Repairs or Housekeeping Tasks: It’s easy to become somewhat blind to issues that build up over time around the job. Perform a site walk-through focused specifically on spotting ongoing issues such as piled papers that require sorting or shredding, potential slip and fall risks or exterior imperfections that could result in leaks. Make note of problem areas, prioritize tasks and delegate the most important undertakings to proper teams. Be sure to set deadlines for completion.
- Cybersecurity Weaknesses or Concerns: Not all risks are visible to the naked eye. In a world where more business is carried out online than ever before, it’s important to make sure the systems and practices you have in place are designed to keep data safe. Ensure systems and software are up to date, schedule out cybersecurity-focused employee training and update passwords if necessary. Make it a point to keep on top of the latest news regarding hacking, scams and fraud, so you can educate your team on what to watch out for.
- Commercial Insurance Policy Considerations: A company’s insurance policy should be specially tailored to protect against the unique risks present within its line of work. Any change to operations — the addition of new locations, the introduction of new departments or product lines, and even changes to employee counts — could necessitate updated coverage. Set an appointment with your business insurance professional to make sure your business is properly protected.
These and other considerations should all be part of a company’s overall risk management strategy. (But we understand it can be overwhelming.) We recommend booking a time to meet with your trusted risk advisor to talk through your industry’s risks and operational concerns — and then taking steps to ensure you’re protected.
Encourage Team Members to Evaluate Their Situation at Home
Your team’s safety and security are of utmost importance, and not just when they’re on the job. Remind them to take steps to prepare their homes and families against losses due to hurricanes and the like. Do they have proper food and supplies stored, just in case? Do they have a plan for where they’ll go if adverse weather makes their current situation unsafe? Do they have an idea of how they’ll communicate with loved ones and team leadership in the event of an emergency? Our Home Emergency Kit Overview offers advice to get them started. Download a copy and share it with your team.
Remember, standing prepared doesn’t just encompass what happens before a disaster takes place. The actions you take following a major weather event or the like are just as important. BCH’s Disaster Recovery Claims webpage is filled with tools, resources and tips to help you return to business as usual as quickly as possible. Follow the link to read up on everything from guidance for temporary repair work to quick links to common insurance carriers. Then, download a copy and keep it handy.
If you have questions about any of the above, or if you’re interested in touching base with BCH to make sure your business insurance and risk management approach is what it should be, feel free to reach out at any time. During National Preparedness Month and beyond, our team is here help you protect what matters — when it matters.