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Home > Business Preparedness: A Checklist

Business Preparedness: A Checklist

Is your business prepared to deal with an emergency? Here’s a list of tasks – some will cost you nothing – which will leave you more prepared to deal with an emergency or disaster.

NO COST

  • Meet with your insurance provider to review current coverage.
  • Create procedures to quickly evacuate and shelter-in-place. Practice the plans.
  • Talk to your people about the company’s disaster plans. Two-way communication is central before, during and after a disaster.
  • Create an emergency contact list, include employee emergency contact information.
  • Create a list of critical business contractors and others whom you will use in an emergency.
  • Know what kinds of emergencies might affect your company both internally and externally.
  • Decide in advance what you will do if your building is unusable.
  • Create a list of inventory and equipment, including computer hardware, software and peripherals, for insurance purposes.
  • Talk to utility service providers about potential alternatives and identify back-up options.
  • Promote family and individual preparedness among your co-workers. Include emergency preparedness information during staff meetings, in newsletters, on company intranet, periodic employee emails and other internal communications tools.

Under $500

  • Buy a fire extinguisher and smoke alarm.
  • Decide which emergency supplies the company can feasibly provide, if any, and talk to your co-workers about what supplies individuals might want to consider keeping in a personal and portable supply kit.
  • Set up a telephone call tree, password-protected page on the company website, an email alert or a call-in voice recording to communicate with employees in an emergency.
  • Provide first aid and CPR training to key co-workers.
  • Use and keep up-to-date computer anti-virus software and firewalls.
  • Attach equipment and cabinets to walls or other stable equipment. Place heavy or breakable objects on low shelves.
  • Elevate valuable inventory and electric machinery off the floor in case of flooding.
  • If applicable, make sure your building’s HVAC system is working properly and well-maintained.
  • Back up your records and critical data. Keep a copy offsite.

More than $500

  • Consider additional insurance such as business interruption, flood or earthquake.
  • Purchase, install and pre-wire a generator to the building’s essential electrical circuits. Provide for other utility alternatives and back-up options.
  • Install automatic sprinkler systems, fire hoses and fire-resistant doors and walls.
  • Make sure your building meets standards and codes. Consider a professional engineer to evaluate the wind, fire or seismic resistance of your building.
  • Consider a security professional to evaluate and/or create your disaster preparedness and business continuity plan.
  • Upgrade your building’s HVAC system to secure outdoor air intakes and increase filter efficiency.
  • Send safety and key emergency response employees to trainings or conferences.
  • Provide a large group of employees with first aid and CPR training.

For More Information

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