Self-preparedness based on an emergency plan is the foundation of a company's crisis preparedness

Strikes, pandemics, exceptional weather conditions - crises of all kinds, both at home and abroad, have made self-preparedness even more important than in the case of the most common accidents, in order to ensure the continuity of a business as a going concern. Self-preparedness therefore not only protects a company's resources and staff, but also ensures that operations can continue as smoothly as possible in the event of various unexpected and abnormal situations. It is based on an emergency plan designed to prevent accidents and prepare for emergencies. In this article, we explain how to use the emergency plan for self preparedness and ensure the continuity of your organisation's operations even if something unexpected happens. 

The emergency plan is designed to prevent accidents and prepare for incidents. The emergency plan usually covers all the critical functions of the company and is drawn up taking into account the specific characteristics of the buildings in use and of the operations and environment in which the company operates. The emergency plan provides clear procedures for dealing with, for example, possible power failures, water supply disruptions, chemical spills and fires, which can cause major damage, especially if they are allowed to spread. In the event of an unexpected incident, rapid response is crucial and pre-planned and rehearsed procedures are necessary.

Although an emergency plan is mandatory for certain types of sites under Finnish law, its importance is highlighted in many industries in the event of an incident where normal operations are threatened: clear procedures and training help to act swiftly and keep damage to a minimum. In this way, preparing for situations in advance saves costly minutes when the situation is on. A well-designed and maintained emergency plan is therefore a key part of an organisation's preparedness for potential incidents. 

• Basic information: Information about the building, its location, number of people, core and support functions.
• Structural information: Details of the infrastructure of the building and its surroundings, such as fire compartmentation and groundwater data and construction materials.
• safety technology: Equipment that supports rescue operations, such as portable fire extinguishers, sprinklers and fire detectors.
• safety staff and partners: Information on safety personnel, their tasks and contact details, as well as cooperation and authority partners, such as rescue authorities and municipal authorities.
• Risk mapping: A summary of the company's risks, including, for example, fire inspections and chemical risk assessment.

As such, an emergency plan is of no use if its contents are not in line with the company's activities, if it is not up to date or if the staff are not aware of its contents and instructions. Responding to an accident also requires knowledge and training. In order to be able to act in accordance with the emergency plan when the situation arises, it is also important to train staff.

• Maintain and update your emergency plan regularly The emergency plan should be a living document that is regularly reviewed and updated. These revisions may be based on new risk assessments, changes in legislation or simply changes in the operating environment and personnel.

• Ensure staff competence Training and regular exercises are key to implementing an action plan. In order to be able to act in accordance with the emergency plan, staff must be aware of the contents of the emergency plan and their own responsibilities in the event of an accident.

When you want to get the most out of self preparedness, our safety experts will guide you through the use of an emergency plan in our free webinar. Download our webinar recording: How to use an emergency plan to improve your organisation's self preparedness Here!