Emergency Management Plans are strategic measures put in place to manage disasters in an organisation. It’s important to have emergency plans to mitigate any unforeseen disaster at the workplace. Brisbane Emergency Management Plans are written sets of instructions that outline what employees and other people in a building should do in the event of a disaster. An effective emergency plan must outline an effective response to an emergency and evacuation procedures. It includes lists of people authorised to coordinate emergency procedures, effective communication training, and frequency of testing emergency equipment. Emergency management plans include identifying potential emergency situations and appropriate measures to be taken during a disaster to safeguard both personnel and property in the organisation. Some of these emergencies could be fires, building collapse, or extreme storms, among other events.

Of course Emergency Management Plans matter. Here is a closer look at why they are so crucial:

1.  Minimise Fatalities and Injuries
An emergency management plan contains details of emergency procedures such as the most effective response to specific emergencies. These procedures have the power to prevent or minimise personnel fatalities and injuries. The plan also includes clear procedures for evacuation from the premises, including creating evacuation diagrams. Our Brisbane emergency management plans address all types of emergencies that can happen quickly and unexpectedly, ensuring that your organisation is able to contact emergency services quickly and efficiently and medical personnel if necessary, potentially saving lives in the long run. Therefore, an effective emergency management plan is important in reducing fatalities and injuries.

2.  Reduce Damage to Building, Stock, and Equipment
Another crucial part of the emergency management plan deals with protecting the building, equipment, and tangible goods on-premise. Identify opportunities to salvage equipment and goods and prevent further damage in the event of an emergency. For example, a good emergency management plan will determine the potential for flooding and create a plan to relocate goods and equipment to higher ground in the event of a severe flood.

3.  Protect the Environment and the Community
In the event of accidental release of hazardous materials because of an unforeseen emergency, employees need to be able to refer to procedures specified in the company’s emergency management plans. Planning for these circumstances helps an organisation to fulfil regulations and to know how to best mitigate effects on the community, personnel, and the building. The plan would include preventative measures like information about the storage of hazardous materials such as fuel, and a plan for mitigating the impact of a spill. You will also have quick access to the contact information for relevant agencies that deal with the management of toxic waste and any special evacuation procedures from the site if necessary.

4.  Accelerate the Resumption of Normal Operations
Emergency Management Plans that are embedded in an organisation structure help organisations resume normal operations as quickly as possible in the event of a disaster that is well-managed. An emergency management plan does not only cover what people in the organisation should do while an emergency is occurring; it also lays out a plan for recovery after the fact. This may include assessing damage, obtaining financial assistance to pay for repairs through insurance, and determining how your marketing strategy might change post-disaster.

5.  Promote Safety Awareness
When employees in an organisation participate in the development and the planning of safety measures to be followed in case of a disaster, it promotes safety awareness at all times. Marked emergency exits, fire assembly points, and other equipment (like a fire extinguisher for example) are a constant reminder to the employees of the need to be alert and ready to do what needs to be done in case of a disaster.

6.  Ensure Equipment and Personnel are Prepared
Emergency Management plans also provide guidelines on frequent testing of emergency equipment. To ensure the various equipment are working, scheduled testing is carried out annually or every half year such as a fire safety audit. Additionally, exercises and drills may be conducted to practise critical procedures such as evacuation. A plan will also ensure that your strata managers and technical staff are trained. A review of training and exercises could help you to identify areas that need improvement.

Brisbane emergency management plans should be created with the help of experienced professionals like those at QPM – contact them to learn more.