News headlines remind us every day about the importance of being prepared for disasters such as wildfires, tornados, floods, and power outages. Being effectively prepared will go a long way to help you get through the circumstances of a disaster. National Preparedness Month, observed each September, encourages Americans to prepare for disaster emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. Each week features a different focus to educate people how to prepare before disaster strikes. National Preparedness Month began in 2004 as a sponsored program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Emergency Plans for Trucking
Trucking companies know that their drivers can find themselves in a disaster emergency on the road at any moment. Taking steps to prepare drivers can minimize the impacts of a disaster on their safety and your business operations.
The best way to be prepared is having an emergency action plan policy in your company’s safety program. In Washington State, companies are required to have employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans.
Plans must provide employees the knowledge, skill training, and resources needed to respond appropriately to emergencies. You should tailor your plan around the emergencies most likely to affect employees in company buildings and truck drivers on the road.
Your plan should also include actions that help employees and their families deal with stress during or after a traumatic emergency event.
Get free resources for National Preparedness Month 2019 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Washington State workplace safety rules for employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans.
