Work is a part of life. In years past, no one even considered the possibility of a catastrophe happening in the workplace. However, we live in different times, and the world can be very dangerous. We are not even safe at work, as is evidenced by recent events. For example, a gunman went into the Navy Shipyards with the intention of hurting other people. Someone else fired a gun by the White House. More and more of these incidences are occurring, which is why it is important to be prepared. And, it is not just the mentally ill that you need to be concerned about. Natural disasters could be detrimental as well.
Most people think that these things happen to other people and not them. As the leader of the company, however, you have to have a plan so that your employees stay safe. The information in this article will help you in creating that plan.
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Realize that there could be a safety breach.
It is not outside the realm of possibility that an angry employee (former or current) heads into the office and commits an act of violence. Natural disasters also occur. If you do not accept these truths, you will not have an adequate plan in place. If you are still unsure, listen to what people say in the aftermath of a tragedy. Most of them state that they never considered that anything like that would have affected them.
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Be aware.
You never know when something out of the ordinary could occur. Watch for suspicious people and events. Talk to your employees about doing this as well. It could help you to ward off a violent event. Don’t be afraid to make a report, even if nothing comes of it, either.
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Listen to the experts.
Police officers are generally happy to talk to you about how to increase safety in the workplace. In addition, they may offer classes that can help you and your employees. If not, search for security classes in your area and see if there is anyone that you can bring out to your company for a training. There is always something new to learn!
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Have a plan.
If there is a crisis, everyone in your building needs to know what to do. Write down a plan and discuss it with an attorney. After you finalize it, share it with your employees.
- Understand that practice makes perfect.
It’s great to have a plan. However, that plan will not do anything for you unless you practice it so that your employees understand how everything works. Hold a drill once per quarter.
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Watch for leaders.
Once you see that someone on your staff has leadership potential, put them in charge of additional responsibilities should there be a crisis.
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Make classes available.
There are a lot of skills that your employees could learn that would help in an emergency. For example, having people training in first aid would be a huge benefit to your business.
Take the time to think about workplace safety. It is important for you and for everyone that works with you. The advice included here will help ensure that your staff is better prepared if there is an incident.