The Gaps In Workplace Emergency Preparedness

Rave Mobile Safety recently did a survey of over 500 workplaces to see if employees feel prepared for emergencies and the results are very interesting. Not only did employees feel unprepared for non-fire emergencies, but the perception of safety preparedness varied depending on the age of employees. The generation gap apparently affects safety training as well as communication in the workplace.

The Generation Gap Is Apparent

Millennials and workers 45 years of age or older seem to have different perceptions of safety preparedness. It was found that 53 percent of Millennials surveyed said that there were no emergency plans in place where they worked, while only 34 percent of workers age 45 and older agreed. It was also discovered that less than 10 percent of Millennials would report safety violations, while almost half of workers age 45 and older would.

Fire Preparedness Versus Non-Fire

Nearly nine out of 10 respondents to the survey said that they were trained on how to act a fire occurs in the workplace. Fire drills have been recommended by OSHA for decades, and many workplaces have made fire drills mandatory. But drills that explain how to handle an Internet security breach or workplace violence are not as prevalent. Only six in 10 respondents said that they had any idea as to how their companies handled non-fire emergencies.

Changing Working Conditions

Telecommuting and remote corporate offices are becoming more popular, and that has affected how companies handle non-fire emergencies. While the corporate offices follow policies that are decades old regarding mandatory fire drills, the new remote work force does not get the same attention. Instead of finding ways to train employees on how to handle non-fire emergencies, companies are falling short on their training responsibilities.

Protecting Your Company

A fire in the workplace is a horrible thought, but times have changed and there are other workplace emergencies that companies have to worry about these days. Terrorist attacks, workplace violence, and online security breaches not only make the headlines, but they can cause serious damage to a company and its employees. Without a preparedness policy in place, your company will have no idea how to react in the new world of workplace emergencies. This lack of preparedness could turn a workplace event into a disaster.

As risk management professionals, we understand the importance of staying updated on the emergencies that can affect an office or remote work area. Construction companies have to be very careful as they have remote workplaces all over the country, and each of those workplaces could be the victim of an emergency.

In this modern world, fire drills are not enough to keep a workplace safe. It is important to have a professional risk management company help you to put together policies to handle all of the emergencies your company faces and develop training methods, including drills, that will help your employees to be prepared for any emergency.