Many companies practice isolated emergency drills at local sites but far fewer execute organization-wide plans on a national or even global scale, according to an article from Occupational Health & Safety. Yet, these drills are important to prepare managers across the company, engage stakeholders beyond the local plant and get quickly escalating crises under control. They are also an ideal opportunity to test companies’ environmental, health and safety programs, according to the article.
The keys to elevating an emergency response drill are planning ahead, preparing for the worst, staying realistic and enlisting executive-level involvement, says the article’s author. It’s also important to conduct a thorough assessment at the conclusion of the drill to close any gaps in the event of an actual emergency. Companies should practice these comprehensive drills on an annual basis.
Read the entire article here.
