Recent emergency evacuations in Philadelphia and other major cities serve as a reminder of the importance of emergency planning. All organizations should have a customized plan. Security Professionals should guide the many decisions that must be made to formulate and implement an effective plan. Tips offered will help you get started.
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) August, 2003 -– The evacuation of buildings in downtown Philadelphia over the past several weeks highlights the need for companies to have plans that will guide them in the event of an emergency. According to Rich Cordivari, Vice President of Secure Defense Systems, employers can dramatically reduce the chance that a bad situation will become worse if they take the time to develop a plan that will direct their response to the variety of situations they may have to deal with. The idea is to train people to act instead of react in an emergency”.
As you develop an Emergency Response Plan for your organization, Secure Defense Systems advises you to consider the following:
Developing The Plan – There is no shortage of information that is easy to obtain for any organization that wants to develop an emergency response plan. However, Cordivari cautions that this information should be viewed only as the starting point for developing a plan.
Every organization is different and the general principles outlined in plans downloaded from the Internet have to be customized in order to address a companys unique needs. Having an experienced security professional manage the development and implementation of the plan will help to ensure that your plan meets those needs.
Communication – Once a plan has been completed, its details have to be circulated throughout the organization in order for it to be effective. Everyone who has a role in executing the plan has to know what theyre expected to do. Regular reminders on key aspects of the plan can be reinforced at meetings, via company-wide email messages, newsletters and by posting information in gathering areas throughout your office.
Practice – Evacuation drills may be conducted by managers of office buildings or campuses, usually in conjunction with local police, fire, emergency medical response personnel and, more often, a security company employed at the site. In many cases emergency plans are never practiced. So, its each organizations responsibility to practice and drill, to make sure that their employees and visitors know what to do in the event of an emergency.
Regular Updates – Make sure that the information in your plan is kept up-to-date. Key contact names and phone numbers can change as people are transferred, promoted or leave an organization. Dont wait until an emergency occurs to find out that a person with important responsibilities is no longer with your company”, Cordivari advises.
Whether or not the building where your company is located has a formal plan, it is up to each organization to consider, plan and practice its response to the various emergencies it may encounter. Alan Breindel, President of Secure Defenses Systems, emphasizes that education and training, including well organized and planned exercises and simulations, are the foundation of a sound security and emergency preparedness.
Considering the speed with which an emergency can turn into a disaster, protecting your most vital assets is a necessity.
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ABOUT SECURE DEFENSE SYSTEMS, INC.
Secure Defense Systems, Inc., located in Springfield, NJ and Philadelphia, PA is a Security and Risk Consulting firm that assists organizations of all sizes in addressing their responsibility to protect their employees, their business and the community; and, to help them minimize the impact of an emergency on people, property and business operations.
The broad range of programs and services that Secure Defense Systems provides includes: Security Consulting, Risk Consulting, Human Resource Services, Emergency Training and Crowd Movement Software.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Springfield, NJ Office
Alan Breindel, President
800.853.5951
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